Volume 3 - CH 2.3

“Oh, really? That’s quite a coincidence.”

“What will sister do?”

“I definitely won’t go. I wasn’t invited, and it would just make me uncomfortable.”

“I guess that makes sense.”

Coincidences can be scary. I was talking to my sister in my room about being invited to the wedding.

In the end, it was confirmed that my mother would attend as a guest of the bride’s side, while I would attend as a guest of the groom’s side. My mother was surprised but seemed happy. Having my mother there made me feel more at ease.

In this situation, it’s Yuri-san who will be left out. I asked her about it, but she flatly declined. It would be complicated to be invited to the wedding of a complete stranger and it can’t be helped.

“By the way, why are you closing your eyes? you can’t measure me like that.”

“It’s my spiritual eye.”

“I see.”

I never expected that I would actually measure her every week. Yuri-san, who embodies beauty and has honed her physical perfection, is truly deserving of being humanity’s greatest masterpiece.

Facing the pinnacle of contemporary art, it’s impossible to directly gaze without a light-blocking panel.

I am Yukito, the blind measurer!

“Kusu… Kusukusu.”

“Haha… Hahahaha.”

It’s rare for something like this to happen. My sister started laughing, so I couldn’t help but laugh along.

“What’s so funny!”

“Kyain.”

I let out a dog-like yelp, being kicked away.

“If you’re going to act like that, I won’t hold back either.”

An ominous line sent shivers down my spine. The sound of clothes rubbing against each other, slipping.

Crap! Because my vision is sealed, my hearing has become more acute!

Maintaining the measurement posture, my sister collapses onto me. Her body temperature feels unusually warm.

My other senses have also become sharper. My sense of touch and smell are also sounding red alerts.

It can’t be true, it can’t be true!

Speaking of Yuri-san, she is immensely popular at school, and I also have immense popularity with her.

No matter how you look at it, if we do that, it won’t be the Davos Conference, it’ll be a family meeting!

I slightly open my eyes and confirm――I widen them in shock.

“Why is your lower body also naked!?”

Blind measurer, defeated!

“As long as we’re at it, I thought you could measure my three sizes. My other sizes must have changed too.”

“As long as we’re at it?”

“Yes.”

“Who’s going to measure them?”

“There’s no one but you, right?”

Impossible, impossible, impossible, impossible, impossible, impossible, impossible, impossible! Am I a Stand user

“Don’t you get tired from averting your gaze like that?”

“An unreasonable pursuit by the culprit!?”

Yuri-san stretches herself slightly, her figure even more divine, then places her heels firmly on the ground. I’m filled with question marks at her mysterious actions, but soon her intention becomes clear.

I won’t say what it was, but it jiggled. I really won’t say what it was.

My eyes quickly follow that movement. Naturally, my gaze is drawn to it.

“Heh. This is a technique for directing your gaze. Remember it.”

“It’s beneficial for studying psychologyyyyyyyy.”

I fell right into the trap. Yuri-san is triumphing. Stomping around!

Let me make an excuse. If you keep reptiles and amphibians as pets, you will notice that some of them only eat live food. When feeding them, they only recognize live insects as food.

This means that capturing moving things in your field of vision is one of the animal instincts. It’s not like I was lured by perverted feelings. Hey, are you listening?

“What’s wrong? It’s not something that will decrease, so feel free to look.”

“Don’t think I’ll be satisfied with that!”

I avert my eyes from the VIO private zone. I can’t even stare at it in anger.

“Right, let’s take measurements once a week here.”

“Isn’t that too much!?”

“It’s my growth period.”

“The growth period is really something.”

The persuasive power of the growth period is truly impressive.

I manage to endure the hellish time, but Yuri-san still remains there.

“I’ll be there to cheer you on at the tournament.”

“Thank you. I think the seniors will be happy too. And if possible, could you wear clothes?”

“What about you?”

“I’ll be so happy I’ll jump for joy. Also, could you please put on some clothes soon?”

“Dance for me.”

“Eeh!?”

While wishing for her to quickly put on some clothes, I dance.

“I’ve never heard of the basketball club having good results until now. Making it to the fourth round is already amazing. You’ve achieved that much, so you should be more proud.”

Am I being praised right now? It feels strange. It must be the same for Yuri-san.

We awkwardly continue to exchange words, still unfamiliar with each other. It’s awkward. But we’re undoubtedly taking steps forward. My sister and I are both navigating this unfamiliar distance. It will still take time for it to become natural.

My sister and I have endured without fleeing from this moment. We are sharing this time together.

More than anything else, that is important, and for now, this is fine. This is our best effort at the moment.

“Are you enjoying club activities a little?”

“I’m not sure. But I don’t dislike it, I think.”

“I see.”

If we continue like this, will we eventually return to being ordinary siblings?

“Are you enjoying school?”

“Yes… It might be enjoyable.”

Since entering high school, everyone around me has been supportive. The teachers, seniors, and classmates.

It has always been lively, and they have protected my place and reached out to me.

I am convinced that this feeling is what they call “enjoyment.”

“I see.”

She gently strokes my head and gives me a light kiss before returning to her room.

She kissed me as a greeting, as if she thought Kokonoe’s family was the only European culture, but when she left, she looked sad and I remembered the past.

In the past, my sister was always smiling. Her smile disappeared after I caused a great commotion.

My sister who used to smile and my sister with a gloomy expression are like completely different people.

It feels like she has changed into someone else. I haven’t seen her smile for a long time now.

While it’s usual for me to have an expressionless face, I loved her charming smile.

She always played with me and reassured me that I wasn’t alone. She was my prideful big sister, and I loved that about her. Precious memories that I held onto without discarding them.

She stopped smiling, just like me. But she is someone who can smile. She is a wonderful person who can enchant others with her smile. I can’t let her remain without her smile. I can’t let her lose it.

“I see… Yuri-san is still…”

She is trapped. Trapped in a deep prison of guilt.

After the serious injury, my sister has repeatedly apologized on various occasions. Forgetting my anger, I have continued to forgive her. What significance did this exchange hold for her?

The injury was my fault for clinging to her without considering her feelings.

There is no need for my sister to atone for any sins. The key to the prison is always unlocked.

And yet, my sister chooses to remain in that prison of her own volition.

I’ve kept my distance from them because she hates me. But if that’s not the case, then that’s–

“Yuri-san, Nee-san… Onee-chan.”

A hint from Mom. She said to start over. If that’s the case, maybe I need to start over not with Yuri-san nor Nee-san, but with Onee-chan.

No matter how close we get, there’s still a distance between our hearts.

I yearn for a future I want to make a reality. Just strongly.

—-once again, so that Onee-chan can laugh.

[Yuri PoV]

“…… that boy is alright now.”

Returning to my own room from the comfortable room of my beloved little brother, I collapse onto the bed, feeling powerless.

My heart feels warm. That child, Yukito, is already okay.

The question I once asked. Previously, he said that club activities and school were boring, not enjoyable. Has he noticed that his answer has changed?

It reached him. Yukito realized it. The kindness that surrounds him.

He is not alone. Exciting days and youth are waiting for him from now on.

I naturally come to understand. Ah, I see. My role… is finished.

“I’m no longer needed by him… “

On that day, I made a vow. I was determined to protect Yukito. But now, it’s over.

In the first place, his problem-solving ability is outstanding. Every time something happens, every time someone tries to hurt him, he becomes stronger. He becomes someone who won’t lose. He has developed an unbreakable strength of spirit.

There was never a moment for me to take the stage. He solves everything on his own.

I’ve been pretending not to notice, or rather, pretending not to notice anything at all.

Because, as a murderer, there was no other way for me to be by Yukito’s side.

Mother, who is the pillar of our family, supports us financially. Yukito supports us emotionally. I’m the only one with no role. I’m the only one who hasn’t done anything. I’m not just worthless, but also a vengeful presence. A murderer who only brings suffering to my little brother.

It’s a cruel truth. A hole seems to open up in my chest, filling me with emptiness.

“This is ridiculous…!”

What on earth am I doing? I know I’m a nuisance, yet I’m interfering with my little brother.

Being by his side, it’s excessive meddling. It’s unlike me to approach him in such an intrusive way and cause him trouble.

I’m a woman who has outlived her usefulness. Unable to accept that fact, I was in a state of panic. Ugly-hearted.

Although I claimed not to seek anything in return, in reality, I wanted to be needed. I wanted to be relied upon.

But such a thing is impossible. Who would need and depend on a murderer?

What exists is resentment and hatred, fear and animosity. There is no reason for anyone to approach me, no reason to exchange words. It’s impossible for anyone to fall in love with me.

I have been averting my eyes from this obvious reality.

That child, Yukito, is steadily improving. This is a good opportunity. I will fulfill that child’s wish at the end.

On the desk, there is a single printout: ‘Career Preference Survey.’

It’s the time to gradually start thinking about the future path after high school.

“I’m sorry, Yukito, for everything up until now.”

I had already decided to go to university, but now I make a new resolution.

It’s not that Yukito will disappear. That child is desired by everyone. It’s me who should disappear.

A university in another prefecture. The farther away, the better. If possible, even studying abroad might be an option. It will be lonely not being able to see Yukito. But I need to take responsibility for what I’ve done.

I’m sure that child will allow me to at least meet during the New Year. Because he is kind. I can’t let myself become a further burden to him. Above all, I can’t bear it anymore.

Is this what it means to detach from being a sister? I’m disgusted by my foolishness.

The reason I never tried to distance myself was not only out of guilt but also because I couldn’t help it.

“…I loved you. So, let’s end it here.”

To avoid any unresolved feelings, from now on, we will be a normal sister and brother.