Chapter 32 – Dinner at the Shirogane House
"Don't go…"
Nakano Nino reached out toward her sisters, but not one of them turned around to respond.
Why?
Why were they treating her like this?
Even if she had done something wrong, did they really have to act like they didn't even know her?
She lowered her head and realized her legs were trembling violently.
"Am I… scared?" Nino wiped away her tears, but they only flowed more, blurring her vision.
Friends who didn't care… family who treated her like a stranger…
Then what was the difference from being dead?
Might as well die.
No one cared about her anyway.
Dying would be fine.
They would regret it—just one jump from the rooftop and they'd all regret it! They'd suffer for pushing her to this!
Do it! That's right!
Wasn't it a perfect way out?
A crazy thought flashed through Nakano Nino's mind.
She dashed out of the library, heading straight for the main building, not even stopping to change her shoes at the lockers.
She shoved open the rooftop door.
A warm spring wind howled around her, tossing her long, silky hair in every direction.
Tears still clung to the corners of her eyes.
Step by step, she walked toward the edge of the rooftop.
Seconds passed.
Leaning against the rooftop railing, Nakano Nino let out a laugh.
"…There's a railing on the rooftop. What the hell are you even thinking, Nino?"
She pressed her forehead to the railing and looked down at the groups of students leaving school below.
"It must be nice… not having to be alone."
"Let's go home… Was I really going to commit suicide… how stupid."
Nino sniffled, pulled a handkerchief from her pocket, and wiped away the makeup smeared by her tears.
Just as she put the handkerchief away, a sudden gust of wind blew hard, causing her to stumble.
She lost her balance, her body leaning forward, face inching closer to the railing.
"This is really going to hurt…"
That's what she thought.
But what happened next was completely unexpected.
Her body… passed right through the green safety mesh of the railing.
Why… was it like this?
It happened so suddenly…
Am I going to die?
I haven't even had the chance to say goodbye…
I still want to see them one last time…
Ichika, Miku, Yotsuba, Itsuki…
I miss them so much…
I don't want to die… I still want to live…
Nakano Nino watched the ground draw closer, then shut her eyes tight in despair.
"THUD!!"
Just a few seconds later, her body hit the ground with a loud thump.
No blood splatter, no broken limbs…
Nothing happened at all.
"…Uwaa~"
Nakano Nino sat down hard on the ground and burst into sobs.
The overwhelming relief of surviving… the disbelief at what had just happened… her heart was a tangled mess.
After crying for a while, she looked around.
She realized she was in the courtyard garden, in the center of the school buildings.
When she finally calmed down, a wave of harsh self-denial surged through her—
"Why… didn't I die?"
Are you kidding me!!!!!!!
Why did it turn out like this?
"I clearly wanted to die! Why won't you let me?! What kind of joke is this?!!! Just let me die already!!!"
She screamed in despair, like she was trying to pour out everything inside her.
Silence.
An eerie, heavy silence.
No one answered.
"Ha~ hahahaha~~!!"
The girl burst into a mad laugh.
No matter how much she screamed, no one answered.
She crawled toward her schoolbag lying nearby.
From inside it, she pulled out a box cutter. She pushed the blade out, then placed it against her neck.
But no matter how hard she tried, her hand couldn't apply any force.
The fear of death overwhelmed her like being submerged in icy water.
A choking sensation surged up, and her breathing started to become strained.
"Cough!!"
She coughed violently.
The coughing wouldn't stop, and more and more saliva dripped from her mouth.
The box cutter slipped from her hand. Powerless, she reached out, trying to pick it back up.
But the moment her fingers touched the handle—
Her hand… passed right through it.
Her pupils shrank violently.
She recoiled several steps, crawling and rolling in utter panic.
She held her hands up in front of her face.
Then frantically patted her body all over.
Just like on the rooftop… her body had passed through the railing.
What is… happening?
...
In front of the Shirogane residence.
Two people pulled up on their bikes.
Shirogane Miyuki just finished a phone call and slipped his phone back into his pocket.
"Who was that?" Sakurai Saki asked curiously.
( ╹ -╹)?
"My dad. Said he won't be home for dinner tonight," Shirogane replied helplessly.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Sakurai glanced at the pile of groceries in his arms—he had bought quite a bit today.
If it were for three people, especially with a girl in the mix, then yeah, this was probably a bit much. And Kei-chan was always mindful of her figure too.
"Hey Shirogane, let's eat out tonight. There's a new Yakiniku place that just opened in Sangenjaya, they've got a promotion going on."
"These ingredients can wait till tomorrow, right? I'm sure your fridge at home can handle it."
Just as Shirogane was about to refuse, Sakurai added—
"Oh, and don't forget to bring me a bento tomorrow. I don't want to eat in the cafeteria anymore."
"Consider the groceries your payment for making the bento. As for the barbecue place, I'll treat you. Kei-chan said she was craving it last time, remember?" Sakurai Saki completely cut off all paths of retreat.
ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
Dozens of thoughts flashed through Shirogane Miyuki's mind.
(｡· v ·｡) ?
What's this guy up to?
The more he thought about it… the more something felt off…
A few seconds later—
Shirogane Miyuki: ( ˶°ㅁ°) !!
The fierce look in Shirogane Miyuki's eyes became even more menacing.
"Sakurai! You've got your eyes on my little sister, haven't you?!"
⁽⁽(੭ꐦ •̀Д•́ )੭*⁾⁾
His little sister was the final line that must never be crossed.
Shirogane Miyuki was a hardcore siscon.
"What are you talking about?" Sakurai Saki played dumb.
( ╹ -╹)?
Shirogane stared him down for a few seconds, but found nothing suspicious, so he turned to open the door.
Just as he was about to unlock it, a sound came from behind.
Sakurai turned around.
"Oh!! Saki-nii!! It's been so long!!"
((๑✧ꈊ✧๑))
A beautiful girl with long silver hair, a black ribbon headband, wearing a sailor uniform, and bearing a resemblance to Shirogane Miyuki suddenly appeared before him.
Shirogane Kei rushed toward Sakurai with a face full of joy and surprise, throwing her arms out wide—
(つ≧▽≦)つ
Then hugged him tightly.
"Saki-nii! I missed you so much!!"
♡〜٩( ˃▿˂ )۶〜♡
Right after the hug, she seemed to realize what she had just done. Her face flushed bright red, and she shyly let him go.
Standing to the side, Shirogane Miyuki could no longer hide the jealousy in his eyes.
"Kei-chan, Sakurai looks a little flustered. Maybe ease up on the affection…"
"Hmph, what's it got to do with you, Aniki?" Kei said while adjusting her hair, then turned sparkling eyes toward Sakurai.
Saki-nii is still as handsome as ever!
That smile is still so charming!
And he's always so gentle with her too!
ʚ(*´꒳`*)ɞ .｡✧･ﾟ:* ~♡
Sakurai spoke gently:
"If you say that, Shirogane will feel left out, Kei-chan."
"Then I won't badmouth him anymore. I'll listen to everything Saki-nii says!" Kei responded obediently.
Standing beside them, Shirogane Miyuki felt more and more wounded with every word.
⪼------➢(っ˃̣̣̥ -˂̣̣̥ς)
Why is my sister…
"Oh right, Kei-chan, Sakurai said he's treating us to Yakiniku tonight. You came home just in time,"
"Saki-nii, is that… expensive?" Kei asked, a little shyly.
Sakurai Saki shook his head and smiled:
"I've been making decent money from part-time work. One Yakiniku meal is no big deal. Think of it as making up for not seeing you for so long."
Upon hearing that, Shirogane Kei nodded happily.
At the doorstep, Shirogane Miyuki watched the two of them chatting and laughing—
And suddenly, he felt like… the odd one out.
(╥ᆺ╥;)