Although the participant was wearing a mask, making it impossible to identify their face, their movements felt strangely familiar.
Some of the techniques were ones I’d seen in countless matches with my sister.
But one thing was certain.
‘It’s not my sister.’
Just in case, I quickly checked the list of participants, but my sister’s name wasn’t anywhere to be found.
Besides, the person competing was male, and his movements were far more agile and powerful than anything my sister usually showed at the dojo.
In the end, my sister didn’t show up for the preliminary rounds that day.
‘Maybe Anne was mistaken.’
I was leaving the arena, resigned, when I saw a couple walking ahead of me.
Their familiar silhouettes were definitely people I knew.
“Lavie, Sister!”
When I called out her name, the two people walking ahead stopped.
And as they turned around.
“Say?”
Wow! It’s really her!
I had finally come face to face with my sister, whom I had been searching for so desperately.
Come to think of it, my sister looked pretty much the same as always.
“Sister, why are you wearing a dress?”
I asked with a puzzled look.
Perhaps a part of me was still suspicious of the man I’d seen at the martial arts tournament.
Even though I was clearly seeing my sister in a dress.
‘Crazy, what am I even thinking?’
This was truly a ridiculous delusion.
I quickly changed the subject.
The last thing I wanted was to cause any misunderstandings with my sister.
“Oh, I was just wondering why you weren’t at the tournament today. I thought you’d be participating.”
My sister seemed slightly taken aback by my words, but she quickly composed herself.
She seemed to have grasped the gist of my question.
“I’m not skilled enough yet.”
“Come on, you’re already amazing!”
“I don’t know!”
“Oh! Did you watch the matches, Sister?”
“Yeah. I was just coming from watching them. Well, I just stopped by for a bit.”
My sister’s reaction was lukewarm.
I worried that the situation would fizzle out like this.
Seeing my sister fanning herself with a fan, probably because she was hot, I was anxious that she would leave, claiming she was tired.
I wanted to spend more time with my sister, so I racked my brain for ideas.
“Sister, how about some t…”
“Say, would you like to have some tea if you have time? I’m terribly thirsty.”
Oh my, that’s exactly what I wanted to say!
“Yes!”
The answer burst out of my mouth without hesitation.
My lips stretched into a wider smile than ever before.
It felt like I was being compensated for all the hardships of the past.
The café was crowded with people.
“Oh! There’s a seat over there.”
I spotted an empty table faster than anyone else, and we sat down in a corner by the window.
Thanks to my sister’s consideration, Anne and Parker were also able to sit at the same table.
“Anne, are you okay?”
“Huh?”
Anne hadn’t said a word since earlier, which was strange.
Her cheeks also seemed to be flushed like ripe persimmons.
I whispered in a small voice.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“Ah, no! I’m perfectly fine. Miss, please don’t worry about me and talk with Lady Lagenne.”
“If you feel uncomfortable at all, you have to tell me.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Soon, warm tea was placed in front of the four of us, and a silence ensued.
My sister was a woman of few words to begin with, and I had hardly ever heard Parker’s voice.
And Anne wasn’t the type to be unable to distinguish when to speak up and when not to.
‘Well, in that case…’
I had no choice but to break the silence.
I couldn’t bear the long awkwardness.
“Ahem, Sister, did you see that person at the tournament?”
“That person?”
My sister asked casually, lifting her teacup.
As compensation for the long silence, I spoke a mile a minute.
“You know, when the cheers were especially loud at the arena earlier.”
“Ah, you mean that time.”
“Yes! Seriously, the participant was so brave that I couldn’t take my eyes off them. And that person’s techniques were very similar to yours, Sister.”
“Cough!”
My sister choked on her tea.
“Sister, are you okay?”
“Yes. I just had a bit of a coughing fit.”
My sister repeatedly patted her chest.
I quickly patted her back.
“Anyway, I was so surprised at first because I thought it was you, Sister.”
“Ahem, that person is my cousin, probably.”
“Oh my, really? I knew their movements were too similar.”
“Is that so? Cough!”
“Oh! Sister, are you really okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. You don’t have to worry.”
“Still…”
Even though she told me not to worry, I couldn’t help but be concerned.
Especially since the person in question was my sister, not someone else.
“I’m really okay, Say.”
Just as my sister reassured me once again, I couldn’t hide my true feelings and blurted out.
“Sister, about that cousin of yours. Could you introduce me to them?”
“What! Cough! Why on earth would you want to meet that guy.”
“I’m curious. Their powerful appearance is still vivid in my mind. Your family’s genes are truly amazing.”
I praised him even more, now that I knew he was my sister’s cousin.
And it was true that I was curious.
What kind of person could possess such skill?
‘I haven’t seen him in the original story. It wouldn’t hurt to get to know him in advance.’
Perhaps the ending capture target might change.
I couldn’t completely rule out the possibility that he was a character I had missed.
I was still able to think this way because I hadn’t finalized the capture target settings yet.
I felt bad about asking my sister for this favor, but I had to try anything if there were other options.
“So please introduce me, Sister.”
“Cough, cough, cough!”
My sister’s coughing still showed no signs of stopping.
I patted her back even more diligently and emphasized again.
“Sister, please!”
I moved my hand even more busily, hoping that my earnest feelings would be conveyed properly.
My sister didn’t seem to notice my touch much because she was busy hacking and coughing.
And so, the day of the National Foundation Festival was coming to an end.
* * *
“You look so beautiful today, Miss!”
“Thank you.”
Today’s outfit was more modest than usual.
I simply let my hair down and finished with a bonnet with pink lace.
Anne said with a curious expression.
“Miss, you have to tell me how effective Granny Horuru is when you get back. You promised, okay?”
“Yes, I will!”
I left the house after seeing Anne off.
I couldn’t help but hum a tune, I was so happy.
Just then, I saw the back of Lavie Sister at the entrance.
“Sister!”
I reflexively raised my hand and waved it vigorously.
“Say!”
“When did you get here?”
“Just now. I ended up finishing getting ready early.”
“Oh, I tried to hurry too, but I was a step late. I should have come out earlier and waited.”
“What does it matter who’s first? Shall we go by carriage first?”
“Yes, let’s!”
The two of us in the carriage looked at each other and smiled occasionally.
I loved the give-and-take culture here.
A few days ago, I had tea with my sister, and now I had made an appointment under the pretext of repaying her.
So today, we were going to use the “astrology ticket” I had received from the contest.
My sister didn’t seem very interested in astrology, but when I begged her to go with me, she reluctantly agreed.
It was a great opportunity since one ticket could be used for two people.
Before long, the carriage arrived at the edge of the village.
After getting out of the carriage, we were able to find our destination without difficulty.
After passing through several spaces surrounded by tents, we saw a sign that read “Horuru’s Astrology.”
“I think this is it.”
“Looks like it. Shall we go in now?”
“Yes.”
An entrance appeared when we lifted the cloth that hung down.
The two of us lowered our bodies and easily passed through the entrance.
I had expected it to be unusual, but the interior was endlessly dark, with only a few candles lit.
In addition, a strong scent that I couldn’t identify stimulated my sense of smell.
Was it because of the unfamiliar atmosphere?
I couldn’t help but shrink.
I stuck close to my sister and swallowed hard.
‘I feel overwhelmed by the atmosphere.’
Compared to my nervousness, my sister didn’t waver much.
It felt like I had a reliable ally by my side.
Only then did I straighten my slumped shoulders.
“Hello is anyone there?”
I mustered my courage and shouted.
Then, a clanging sound came from afar, along with a reply.
“Come in, further inside.”
It was definitely a human voice.
‘Is that her?’
Still not letting my guard down, I walked in step with my sister.
Soon, I saw an old woman with snow-white hair let down.
She wore a lot of accessories on her arms, and her nails were very sharp and long.
Her crimson lips even made my spine tingle.
“Ah, hello. Are you Granny Horuru?”
“That’s right. There’s nothing to be afraid of, so sit down comfortably.”
Unlike her strong impression, her voice contained kindness.
The two of us sat down as if possessed, and followed Granny Horuru’s instructions to spread our left hands on the table.
“Relax your hands and try to think that you are entrusting everything to nature and the universe.”
As I slowly relaxed my hands according to the old woman’s words.
“Ah!”
A small groan escaped my lips.
It was because the tips of my fingers felt like they were being pricked by needles.
As if something invisible was piercing my skin, a drop of blood fell from the tip of my index finger.
The same strange thing happened to my sister.
Soon, a circular chart was spread out on the table covered with black cloth, divided into twelve sections.
Patterns that I couldn’t understand filled the chart densely.
The two of us widened our eyes without saying a word.
“Let’s see.”
Granny Horuru’s expression quickly became serious.
The kindness from before had disappeared as if it had never been there.
My mind became hazy.
It felt like my body was floating in the air.
I didn’t know if it was because of the strange scent here, or if I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere, or if it was because of the magic that Granny Horuru was using.
I couldn’t figure out the reason.
I barely turned my head to look at my sister, but she was focused on the circular chart.
And I barely came to my senses at the old woman’s voice that followed.