Maybe Komachi had always known her brother was a smart guy. But his smarts had never been used in the right way, and that's how things ended up like this. Still, as his little sister, Komachi had always given him support and encouragement.
But hearing this kind of lazy dream, she couldn't help but complain a little. After all, seeing her brother so quickly lose any goal in life made her feel a bit uneasy.
"Onii-chan, our family runs a diner. In a way, we're cooks too. Haven't you thought about anything else?"
Hachiman spoke as if he already had his answer, with a serious tone: "[Hikigaya Diner] is fine with just you and Dad. Even if one day Dad gets too old to cook, there'll still be you, right?"
Letting out another sigh, Komachi quietly accepted it all. She stepped up to Hachiman, tapped his forehead with her finger, and said—
"Fine, fine, what can I do? I'm your little sister, after all."
"That's great."
"Of course! Don't forget to give your world's number one, super cute little sister some extra points!" With her little fang showing, Komachi looked like an angel sent from the heavens, and to Hachiman, she was the very center of his world.
Of course, that definitely didn't make him a sis-con.
After some playful banter, Komachi suddenly dropped her usual cheeky attitude. She sat back down quietly and took another sip of warm milk.
"Onii-chan, I've thought about it..."
"What's wrong?"
"We're in the final stretch now. Starting next week, I'm planning to live at school."
"So sudden?"
"Yeah. After all, it's about my future. And Dad really isn't that reliable. As long as you know, that's enough... After that, I'll be going to schools around the world to learn cooking, and bring honor to our Hikigaya Diner." As Komachi said this, her face was full of excitement.
"Then go ahead and do it without worry. Dad and I will take care of things here. Nothing will happen."
"Brother, you should also find your own goal soon. Whether you want to be a chef or not, that's something Komachi always hopes for."
"Mm..."
Their daily chat came to an end, and Komachi didn't continue talking. As a student about to graduate, every minute and second was precious. At this point, she really should get a good rest.
"A dream, huh? Maybe I once shared one with someone... but by now, that kind of thing should've been gone long ago."
"But still..."
Lying in bed, unable to sleep, Miura's and Komachi's words kept echoing in his mind. Should he set out? Or should he stay here? Maybe all he needed was just a reason.
When he opened his eyes again, faint morning light was shining through. The diner was utterly quiet, and Dad was probably coming home today.
After taking out the milk and bread from the electric stove, Hachiman noticed a note Komachi had left behind.
"Make sure you find your goal soon, for the sake of the world's cutest little sister, Komachi!"
Her words made him chuckle softly.
"This girl..."
"Ding-dong... Welcome."
"Sorry, Hikigaya Diner is closed right now. The earliest we'll be open is tonight."
"You brat, you even forgot about your old man, didn't you?"
Hachiman shook his head helplessly. But knowing his father's character, there was no way he'd sneak in through the back door.
Joichiro's face turned serious. "Hachiman, there's something I need to tell you..."
"Why are you making it sound so formal?" Hachiman didn't really take it seriously and went on eating his bread.
"Komachi's planning to board at school, right?"
That was surprising. Normally, Dad couldn't even remember what grade Hachiman and Komachi were in. Back when Hachiman was little, his father once went to pick him up from kindergarten, only to find out there wasn't anyone named 'Hachiman' there—because he had already moved on to first grade.
He thought that was just a one-time mistake, but later there was another event where parents had to pick up their kids. Hachiman waited in vain for Joichiro, and eventually found out his father had gone to the wrong school again.
From that point on, Hachiman was certain his dad was completely unreliable.
It was also from then that Hachiman started living independently, earlier than most kids his age. And to make sure Komachi wouldn't suffer the same, he took on the job of picking her up and taking her home.
But now... it felt strange. His dad had actually learned about this matter so quickly.
Before Hachiman could respond, Joichiro went on:
"This place will probably have to close for... two or three years. But something this big, we still need to let our regulars know in advance and apologize."
"Guess I should apologize."
That sudden line broke his train of thought, and for a moment Hachiman's mind just went blank.
"Wait, what? What did you just say? Closing the shop?"
"Yes. I know what you want to ask. As for the reason, of course it's because some friends from abroad invited me to work with them, so I agreed."
Since he'd never gone through something like closing a shop before, Hachiman had never even thought about it. But if it really came to that... what would happen to him and Komachi?
Joichiro, being Hachiman's dad, quickly saw through his thoughts. "Hachiman, you don't need to worry about Komachi. You should be thinking more about yourself."
"You know... as a chef, there's no end to learning. Even I wouldn't turn down a chance to grow, so that's why I made this sudden choice."
"And you... it's time for you to set out too."
"As my son, even if others don't understand you, I'd stake my whole career as a chef that I'm not wrong about you, Hachiman. You're really good—you just need more experience."
"Go on. From here on, just like always, walk ahead of Komachi. I'm sure that after she graduates, she'll follow you there too. After all... you're her big brother."
Because it mattered, because he didn't want to lose it, he kept hiding it, kept pretending not to see, kept putting up an act. Everyone was lying, everyone was trying to hold things together. But... the one who lied the most was me.
Still, he never expected his dad to suddenly speak so seriously, and even less that Joichiro had been watching over them all this time.
Yeah... it's time to set out.