Prologue | Little Girl

♣♣♣

“Hahahahaha! I thought you were just a foolish little brother, but being that clumsy is hilarious! You’re practically a natural monument! Should I file an application to have you registered as a protected species?!”

Christmas.

December 25th.

After the breakup talk with Himari.

Just as the date changed, Saku-neesan, who was working a shift at the convenience store, came home.

And seeing the disastrous state of the living room… overturned plates, scattered snacks—she furrowed her brow, asked for the reason, and burst into laughter.

Saku-neesan, without a hint of remorse, wiped tears from her eyes with her finger and said,

“Phew, that blew away all my work fatigue. Foolish little brother, you’re actually useful sometimes, huh?”

“Shut up. I’m depressed enough to die here, so can you stop with that?”

“You’re always using up your luck, so it’s good for you to face some pain once in a while.”

“It’s not like I’m always lucky…”

…No, wait.

Come to think of it, I have been too lucky so far.

If I took that for granted, it’s only natural that I’d get slapped with consequences like this.

Saku-neesan placed some fried chicken she brought from our convenience store on the table and grabbed a bottle of wine from the fridge. She didn’t forget the Polippy snacks and cheese either.

…She’s clearly planning to drink while using my heartbreak as a side dish. As expected of my dear sister. Not a shred of compassion. I might just cry.

“Oh, found a cake.”

“That’s…”

“Hm? Is it one I shouldn’t eat?”

“…No, you can eat it. It was made at Enomoto-san’s place, so the taste is guaranteed.”

Saku-neesan, muttering something like, “A hand-shaped cake? How avant-garde. Is this Attack on Titan or what…?” casually sliced it up onto a plate.

The original cake I made for Himari.

…But this wasn’t what Himari wanted.

“I thought you’d be mad, Saku-neesan.”

“Why?”

“Well, you’re on Himari’s side, aren’t you?”

Saku-neesan always told me to “treat Himari well.”

So it’s strange that she’s acting so normal…

“For Himari-chan’s sake, breaking up was the right choice, wasn’t it?”

“Huh…”

Pouring red wine into a teacup, she downed it in one gulp.

Saku-neesan, so accustomed to drinking alone that even I, a minor, thought, How unrefined, pointed a piece of leftover fried chicken from the store at me.

“You’re just not cut out for romance from the core.”

“Not cut out? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. It’s like how some people can’t keep time or clean their rooms. There are people out there who, for some reason, just aren’t suited for romance. They can handle work or hobbies skillfully, but when it comes to love, they always make their partner unhappy.”

“What’s that, some kind of curse? Do people like that even exist?”

“You’ve got a perfect example right near you, don’t you?”

“Huh?”

Someone not suited for romance? Near me?

As I pondered, Saku-neesan snorted with a laugh.

“Kureha and Hibari-kun.”

“…”

Ugh…

Now that she mentions it, it suddenly feels kind of sad. Is that what I’ll be like ten years from now? No, I respect them, and it’s an honor, but… I want to be an adult who doesn’t go around declaring others as their “little brother”…

“Hibari-kun’s great at his job and considerate, so why does he get so stubborn when it comes to romance? I was shocked when those two broke up just before graduating university. You probably can’t imagine it, but they were doing pretty well.”

“…”

I don’t know much about those two.

Hibari-san decided to work for this town.

Kureha-san wouldn’t give up her dream of becoming a successful model.

Their circumstances didn’t align… that’s one way to put it. But they could’ve chosen to stay together. If one of them had compromised… But I’ve learned that it’s not that simple.

As I got lost in thought, Saku-neesan said,

“It’s fine.”

Her words made me look up.

Saku-neesan continued in her usual tone, unchanged.

“You’re fine as you are. I’m not mad or anything. It’d be more troublesome if you reflected too much and tried to hold Himari-chan back.”

“Troublesome…?”

“I mean, come on. Even if you apologized to Himari-chan and took back the breakup, you’d just end up fighting over the same things again. That’s just who you are. In the end, you’re the type who can’t live for love alone.”

“…”

Those words pierced my chest deeply.

Just the plain truth.

I can’t live for love alone.

As if to drive the point home, Saku-neesan continued.

“Move forward. Use your failures as fuel to shape yourself into the person you’re meant to be.”

Saku-neesan’s eyes seemed to gaze somewhere far off.

She wasn’t looking at me.

Somewhere… maybe she was thinking of Himari, or perhaps tracing memories from long ago.

“Himari-chan should move forward too. Even if your paths never cross again, this experience will be her fuel. That’s the least you can do to repay her.”

Those words carried the weight of a life longer than mine.

Once paths diverge, they may never meet again. When I told Himari I wouldn’t allow her to return to “you.” I hadn’t even considered that possibility.

Was I wrong?

Or, as Saku-neesan says, was this for the best?

There’s no need to tie down Himari’s talent to me. Kureha-san told me that over the summer. Thinking back, Kureha-san’s life has been far more tumultuous than mine, and her insight is undeniable.

What Kureha-san said has now been proven right.

In light of that, this choice wasn’t wrong.

For both of us… for Himari’s sake, this was the right thing to do.

So, I just need to look forward.

Somehow, I understood what Saku-neesan was trying to say… Maybe she’s trying to encourage me. Feeling a bit grateful, I thought.

“Saku-neesan, thanks…”

Saku-neesan downed her wine and let out a middle-aged-man-like sigh.

“Phew, now I can fill the convenience store shifts with you over winter break. Since you’re not hanging out with Himari-chan, you’ve got no plans, right? I might finally get some rest.”

“Saku-neesan…”

You ruined it.

This is who she is. Why was I getting all sentimental and about to thank her?

“Huh? Got some plans or something?”

“No, I was going to work on accessories…”

“You can’t focus on making accessories if you’re mentally messed up, right? You’re the type who can’t do satisfying work without your emotions in it.”

“Yeah…!”

Even if she’s a rotten sister, she knows me well.

Saku-neesan rummaged through a box of expired products and tore open a bag of Cheetara snacks with gusto. …This woman’s beautiful, but her snack taste is completely that of a middle-aged man. Waving a piece of Cheetara up and down, she snorted.

[T/N: Cheetara is cheese sandwiched between processed fish sheets.]

“Besides, for the past six months, I’ve been covering for you because you said you were focusing on accessories. During winter break, show some filial piety to your sister.”

“Yes…”

For that, I’m genuinely grateful, kindest sister.

Once the living room was cleaned up, I decided to retreat to my room. …Today, I helped out at Enomoto-san’s place in the afternoon, had a whole ordeal with Himari at night—too much happened.

…Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep. I’ve got a morning shift at the store tomorrow, so I should at least try.

As I was about to leave the living room, Saku-neesan suddenly said, “Oh!”

“There’s a short-term part-timer starting tomorrow. You’re in charge of training them.”

“Ehh… I’m not good at that kind of thing.”

“Don’t act all high and mighty picking and choosing. They’re a student, so it’s better if you’re closer in age.”

“That just makes me more nervous…”

Someone much older would actually be easier since I wouldn’t have to worry as much.

As I hesitated, Saku-neesan, dangling a piece of Cheetara from her mouth, grinned.

“It’s a cute girl, you know?”

“Huh? You think that info’s gonna make me eager?”

“Well, thanks to Himari-chan and Rion-chan, your standards are weirdly high. How luxurious.”

“Enough with that…”

When I groaned, Saku-neesan shrugged.

“But experience training newbies is never a bad thing. If Himari-chan’s not around anymore, who’s gonna handle the part-timers when you open your own shop?”

“Oh…”

She’s right.

If I’m going to keep chasing my dream, I’ll have to do it alone. The work Himari used to take on will naturally fall to me.

—Alone?

I’ve been making accessories to be with Himari.

That goal is gone now. So why am I going to keep making accessories?

Because I love flowers?

No. I do love flowers, but that’s not the same as aiming to be an accessory creator. If I just loved flowers, I could’ve aimed to be a florist.

Why do I want to make accessories?

I think it over again.

At first, it was because of Enomoto-san’s influence.

As a kid, I fell in love with Enomoto-san and wanted to bring her my flowers.

Then I met Himari, and I started making accessories for her.

I kept making accessories because I didn’t want to lose Himari, the partner who understood my passion.

Was that really all there was to it?

Am I making accessories just because I don’t want to lose a partner who understands my passion?

If so, it shouldn’t have to be Himari.

Enomoto-san understands my passion too.

These past few months, she’s been working hard as my partner in you.

…Was there a reason it had to be Himari?

(What am I going to make accessories for from now on…)

As I got lost in thought, Saku-neesan said,

“About that short-term part-timer starting tomorrow.”

“Huh?”

When I turned around, she lightly flicked her teacup with her finger.

“She’s gonna be an interesting kid for you.”

“Interesting?”

Not understanding what she meant, I asked, but Saku-neesan just shrugged.

“Go to bed already.”

“Oh, yeah…”

I felt a bit unsatisfied but obediently followed her advice.

I climbed the stairs and entered my room.

I glared at the fluffy white ball brazenly occupying my bed. Our white cat, Daifuku, yawned with a smug little face.

“Daifuku. Move.”

“…”

When he rolled over, he stretched dramatically, deliberately taking up more space. …This guy totally understands human language, doesn’t he?

As I reached out to push Daifuku aside, he hissed, “Shaa!” and swiped at me with his claws.

“…”

I forced my way into the bed. Time for tough measures. I’d use my human size to claim my territory—muahaha… Ow! Don’t scratch me, you jerk!

“…Haa.”

Sighing, I looked up at the ceiling.

Stroking the now-calm Daifuku’s back, I thought vaguely.

…What am I going to make accessories for from now on?

I want to become an accessory creator that everyone acknowledges.

That feeling still burns in my chest, unchanged.

I’ve been experimenting and iterating to make that happen. It’s not like I lack the resolve now. But what’s the reason for chasing a dream in the first place?

Even without Himari, what’s my reason for continuing to make accessories?

♣♣♣

When I came to, the window was already bright.

Morning already? I must’ve fallen asleep while thinking. Honestly, my body’s exhaustion hasn’t eased at all.

I left my room and washed my face. Since I’ll be at the store all day, my usual hoodie should do. The living room was empty. As always, I toasted some leftover bread, spread margarine, and ate.

When I turned on the TV, the usual morning news was on. Not as intense as yesterday, but they were introducing a famous patisserie in Tokyo.

…The morning after breaking up with my first-ever girlfriend was just another peaceful morning, no different from usual.

Love’s kinda crazy, huh? It’s supposed to be a huge life event, but when it’s over, it really leaves nothing behind. Like a ghost-type monster in a game. The kind you beat but get no treasure chest. Wait, what kind of analogy is that?

Ugh. Will this sentimentality just become part of my “usual” as time passes? With my sleep-deprived brain thinking stupid things like, Wait, maybe I’ve got a talent for writing lyrics?, the doorbell suddenly rang.

“…Delivery?”

Maybe Saku-neesan ordered something online. Or maybe it’s a year-end gift for Dad… No, those get sent to the store. Whatever, I’ll just check.

“Yes, who is… Huh?”

Opening the front door—I froze.

A familiar twin-tailed girl was standing there.

This was Shiroyama Mei-san.

A middle school girl who, at the fall culture festival, admired Himari and (sort of?) became her disciple. For a moment, I thought she was some fancy young lady because she was dressed in stylish casual clothes. She wore a baseball cap and carried an oversized backpack. The outfit suited her petite frame perfectly.

Why was Shiroyama-san at my house?

What’s her business? Oh, maybe she’s here for Himari and got the wrong address… But then, it’s weird that she’d know my address…

As I mulled it over, Shiroyama-san flashed a bright, lively smile and said,

“Yuu-senpai! I’m here to train under you and live at your place!!”

…I see.

Christmas, the day I broke up with Himari.

Shiroyama-san showing up in the morning.

And now, live-in training.

With this overload of information—I completely understood.

I must still be dreaming!