The Lie and What Follows

On the way home after talking with Kiryu-san.

Walking back to the station with Riko-san, the station came into view.

“Do you have time on Sunday?”

I think she’s talking about the post-festival gathering. I basically have no plans, so it’s fine.

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

“Mm. I’ve put it in the calendar.”

She must have entered it into her smartphone schedule. She shows me her calendar with “Tooru (heart mark)” written on it. The entire day is colored pink.

…I won’t comment on the heart mark.

“This time, there won’t be anything else.”

Riko-san declares this while showing me her calendar.

She must be concerned about it. That day, Kondo-kun’s match and our date overlapped, which must have weighed heavily on her.

“Yeah. Thank you. I trust you.”

I trust her. Even though we’ve had misunderstandings, we’ve managed to build our relationship again.

“Mm.”

Riko-san nods, seeming to want to say something.

“Yeah?”

She hesitates but then looks up at me.

“Hey, you went to Ninomiya’s house before, right?”

“Yeah, it was her grandma’s house.”

It was incredibly grand. Like a house where an asteroid probe could crash.

“Right. …Do you want to come over on Sunday?”

…Uh.

To her house? As in Riko-san’s house? So, it’s her house we’re talking about?

“Like, to your house…?”

“Is that bad?”

“No, it’s fine.”

I answered without thinking. My voice completely cracked.

“Really!? Oh, if you don’t want to, it’s totally fine.”

Honestly, I’m nervous. It’s the Adachi family, right? I wonder if everyone there is like a gal…

No, it’s just an invitation to her house. No need to be nervous. Yes. It’ll be fine. Everything will work out.

“Then, see you at the station.”

“Okay, got it.”

I wave goodbye to Riko-san as she goes through the ticket gate.

I need to buy another gift of sweets.

——————————–

Sunday

It’s finally Sunday.
Wow, that was quick.
I barely remember Saturday, so I had to check the date, but it’s definitely Sunday.

I’m meeting Riko-san at the station at 12.
It’s 11:20 now. I should leave soon or I might make her wait.

I head from my room to the entrance.
The challenge is the living room. I can’t get to the entrance without passing Haruka’s checkpoint in front of the TV.

It’s okay. I’m just going to play with friends. I can explain. Bring it on.

Determined, I step into the living room.
I reach for the door that leads to the hallway to the entrance.

Huh, she hasn’t come yet. If she’s not going to say anything, she could at least go first. As I open the door,

“Tooru.”

Yes.

“What is it?”

I’ve become incredibly nervous.

“When will you be back?”

Huh.

“Before 5.”

“So.”

“Yeah, um, I’m off then.”

“Yeah, take care.”

I make my way through the hallway and out the entrance.

Huh? I thought she’d definitely ask more. Why didn’t she?

【—–Haruka √—–】

I open the front door and step outside.
…Something bothers me.

I didn’t expect Haruka, who knew I was meeting Riko-san today, to say nothing.

I stop my hand from locking the door and go back inside.
When I open the living room door, I see Haruka sitting on the sofa.

Haruka, crying, was there.

“Haruka…”

I don’t think she noticed I came back.
She looks up at me, surprised.

“Why…?”

“I was worried.”

“I’m fine. You should go.”

“…I can’t go. Not when Haruka is crying.”

There are 38 minutes until the meetup time.
I send a message to Riko-san saying I can’t make it.

Read immediately. Only a dog acknowledgment stamp in reply.
…I’ll have to apologize tomorrow.

I put away my smartphone and face Haruka.

“Go, please.”

“I won’t go.”

“Go!”

She pushes me away, trying not to show her weak side. I haven’t seen Haruka like this in a long time, so I hug her as I used to.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry.”

I don’t know what’s in Haruka’s heart, but she’s crying. Who else will be there for her if not me?

“Please go…”

I stroke Haruka’s back as she repeats in a small voice, trying to comfort her as she sobs.

“…Why? I’m fine… I can be alone.”

Haruka mutters in a trembling voice.

Maybe it’s because of me and Riko-san…

I naturally

hug her tighter.

“I won’t let you be alone.”

“Because Tooru finally moved forward. I didn’t want to stop you.”

…As expected. The only reason she’d cry is because of me. I can’t deny it, not after receiving so much love from her.

Such a kind sister is crying.

The sister who always saved me.

“Hey, Haruka.”

Then, I’ll stop as many times as needed. If Haruka pushes me forward, I’ll reach out to her.

“I decided to move forward, but I won’t leave Haruka behind.”

If Haruka stops, let’s rest together.

“We said we’d stay together, right?”

Haruka in my arms rubs her head against me.
I stroke her back and then her soft hair, caressing her.

“…What about Riko?”

“I’ll apologize to her. I don’t know what she’ll say since I canceled on the day… but I wanted to prioritize Haruka over my friend Riko.”

“I’m an idiot, aren’t I?”

“Yeah.”

Definitely.

“I didn’t expect you to come back.”

“I’ll come back.”

“I thought you’d go to Riko.”

“I can’t.”

“…If I was alone, I couldn’t have endured it.”

“I’ll be by your side.”

“I’m okay now. Thank you.”

Haruka, calmed down after crying, tells me.
I let go of my hug and sit next to her on the sofa.

“Stroke me.”

“Ah, okay.”

I keep stroking her head resting on my shoulder.

…Haruka’s sitting height is almost the same as mine.

How long are her legs? It’s embarrassing to be a brother who’s shorter in the inseam. Too late now, though.

In the peaceful atmosphere, Haruka leaning on my shoulder mutters.

“I… um…”

“What?”

Haruka hesitates before speaking.

“I don’t want Tooru… to date Riko.”

With those words, several possibilities inside me seem to disappear.

Me, dating Riko.

We got back to being friends. Back to the starting point.

Maybe there was a possibility of dating in the future.

Maybe I could have regained the feelings I gave up on that day.

Maybe I was close to falling for her.

But.
I.
Chose to protect my only sister.

“I won’t date her.”

It took time to say those words.

“Is that okay?”

“Yeah. Because it’s Haruka’s request.”

“I might never have a girlfriend, you know?”

That’s… true.

“That might be so. Tough.”

But it can’t be helped. This is my choice.

Because my sister is more important than a potential girlfriend.

“Then, I have to be there for you.”

Haruka smiles and leans in, and I accept her.