The morning breeze was cool, tinged with a hint of fragrance.
As they neared the school, crowds of chattering people walking in groups began to appear.
“Hikigaya-kun, how do you view the creature known as a Imouto?” (Imouto=little Imouto)
Looking at Hikigaya Hachiman, who walked silently beside her, Doma Umaru suddenly felt enveloped by a vast sense of loneliness.
To make herself feel more at ease, she brought up this topic.
“Asking me that so suddenly…” Hikigaya Hachiman looked helpless.
They were two people who, beyond their names, didn’t really know each other; there was truly no need to force a conversation.
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
“If you are asking me what a Imouto is, my answer is: a Imouto is just a Imouto.
There aren’t many feelings to it, one way or the other; a Imouto is simply a Imouto.”
The atmosphere, which had been quiet between them, suddenly seemed as if Hikigaya Hachiman had been triggered by a switch; he became spirited and bright.
“But if you were to ask me who Komachi is, my answer would be: Komachi is Komachi.
She is Hikigaya Hachiman’s most supreme, ultimate Imouto.
Therefore, Komachi does not equal ‘Imouto’ [as a general concept], but a ‘Imouto’ must be Komachi.”
“Huh?”
Doma Umaru’s brilliant mind stopped running for a split second, but she still understood what Hikigaya Hachiman meant.
“Senpai really loves Komachi.”
“As expected of you, to actually understand my meaning.”
“I have Onii-chan, so I can somewhat understand.” Because she had an older Onii-chan who loved her very much, Umaru didn’t find Hikigaya’s idea surprising.
But precisely because of that, as a Imouto herself, she also wanted to understand some of the thoughts regarding her Onii-chan.
“I mean, suppose there is such a pair of siblings.
The Onii-chan is very excellent, but the Imouto is mediocre, and this Imouto also brings all kinds of trouble to the Onii-chan from time to time.
Facing such a imouto, even if he liked her at first, wouldn’t the Onii-chan eventually hate such a imouto?”
As if she had just voiced some extreme theory, Hikigaya Hachiman stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowing tightly.
“That is rebellious and wicked; it’s practically the attitude of scum.
How could anyone hate their own Imouto?”
“But the Imouto is the type who makes her Onii-chan, who has just finished cooking and is feeling tired, go downstairs to buy manga, and if refused, she’ll throw a tantrum on the bed.
Not only that, she’ll complain to the Onii-chan who had no choice but to buy the manga, saying, ‘Since you already bought the manga, couldn’t you have brought back a bag of chips, too?'”
“How vivid.
It’s like it’s happening right before my eyes.
“And there’s also [doing things like] beside her sleeping Onii-chan…”
Before Umaru could finish, she was interrupted by Hikigaya Hachiman.
“Doma-san, would you hate your Onii-chan for lying around the house all day doing nothing?
Would you hate your Onii-chan for hiding under his covers and crying silently because he didn’t make friends at school?
Would you hate your Onii-chan for talking to himself and conversing with thin air?
Would you hate your Onii-chan for playing a baseball game by himself?
Would you hate your Onii-chan…”
Listening to Hikigaya Hachiman’s narration, Umaru felt as if everything before her eyes had gone dark.
‘Such a Onii-chan, such a pathetic Onii-chan…’
“I wouldn’t hate him.
Absolutely not, because he is my Onii-chan.”
“Exactly, that’s it.
Because Komachi doesn’t hate me like that, either.” Hikigaya Hachiman’s face was full of smiles, and even his dead fish eyes brightened up.
“Because they are siblings.
Mention Komachi, and people think of Hikigaya Hachiman’s Imouto; mention Hikigaya Hachiman, and people think of Komachi’s Onii-chan.
Because they are siblings, they have such an inseparable relationship.
As for an Onii-chan’s feelings toward his Imouto—whether it’s growing up, learning, or even life itself—the moment you think of someone stumbling along behind you, you are too busy cherishing and protecting them to have any time for hatred, let alone reason to.”
.
.
.
Yukinoshita Yukino was Yukinoshita Haruno’s younger Imouto, the younger Imouto whom Yukinoshita Haruno cherished the most.
It was a day filled with falling snow—a day that didn’t feel cold—when the second young lady of the Yukinoshita family was born.
The entire Yukinoshita household was cheering, just as they had been the day Yukinoshita Haruno was born.
At an age when she didn’t know the meaning of “Onee-chan,” Yukinoshita Haruno’s delicate fingers were tightly grasped for the first time by a smaller hand, even more delicate than her own.
What kind of feeling was that?
Yukinoshita Haruno didn’t remember.
And when she finally understood the responsibilities she had to bear as Yukinoshita Yukino’s Onee-chan, she could no longer walk side-by-side with her Imouto.
As the eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family, her life was destined to be lonely.
Walking through such desolation, one would soon lose oneself.
Inadvertent hesitation, an inadvertent glance back.
A small, stumbling figure left far behind—that was her Imouto, who insisted on following her closely even in such hardship.
Yukinoshita Yukino, who followed behind her, even wanting to follow in her footsteps through life.
‘Follow the right person, Yukino.
Walk the right path, Yukino.’
Yukinoshita Haruno had prayed this in her heart.
But the response she got was still the figure of Yukinoshita Yukino—firm and unmoving, without the slightest tremor.
How could one ever bring themselves to hate such a Imouto?
However, if one only knows how to follow behind others, one day, they will be discarded at will.
“Yukino, I heard you formed a club at school.
Has there been anything fun lately?” Watching the cute Yukino eating breakfast beside her, Yukinoshita Haruno leaned in close.
“I don’t think I’m playing.
And you’re leaning too close.” Yukinoshita Yukino’s brow furrowed, revealing an expression of annoyance, but she didn’t push Haruno away.
“You won’t tell me?
I’ll just have to ask that guy.” Saying this, Yukinoshita Haruno picked up her phone as if about to make a call.
“Harassing others early in the morning doesn’t befit the etiquette of the Yukinoshita family.
As for the club, a kouhai recently came to the Service Club for help, saying she could see ghosts.” Yukinoshita Yukino told Haruno about Yotsuya Miko’s situation; she also wanted to know her Nee-chan’s opinion.
She didn’t think her Nee-chan would believe in the existence of ghosts in this world, but the next thing Haruno did was beyond her expectations.
Yui pulled a bunch of things out of her bag and handed them over, looking quite anxious as she said: “Quick, quick, take these.
They were all made by masters and can deal with ghosts and such.
Yukino, don’t take this lightly.”
“Thank you.” Although she didn’t know if they would be effective, Yukinoshita Yukino chose to accept them.
Is the road this narrow?
Just a single foot-path.
Cramped and silent clover, Forbids walking side by side.
If you walk behind me, You will count my footprints; If I walk behind you, I will watch your back.