When I woke up in the morning, a sweet fragrance drifted softly through the bedroom.
As if drawn by the scent, I made my way toward the living room.
“Morning, Big Sis.”
“Mm, morning.”
“I made pancakes today! Come on, sit down, sit down.”
Yuno gave a soft smile and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, guiding me toward a chair.
When I stole a glance at her face, her eyes were red and swollen. Yet, her voice and expression remained in their usual bright tone.
Because of that, the memory of her heartbreakingly tearful face from last night flashed through my mind, and a dull ache throbbed deep in my chest.
A plate of pancakes and a cup of coffee were placed on the table with a light clink.
“Let’s eat.”
As I pressed my fork in, I found them surprisingly fluffy and soft. As I took a bite, the sweetness of the butter and syrup spread warmly through my mouth, followed by the mellow bitterness of the coffee.
“…This is delicious.”
The words escaped me before I realized it.
“Right?! Pancakes get all fluffy if you mix in some carbonated water!”
Yuno’s face lit up instantly, her expression brimming with pride. I couldn’t help but laugh.
Since becoming a working adult, I had almost never made something like this for myself in the morning.
In this moment, I felt a genuine sense of happiness. As frustrating as it was, I had to admit it.
Suddenly, I felt Yuno staring intently at me.
When I turned toward her, our eyes met. Yuno looked down and let out a small, soft giggle.
“What is it? Why are you laughing at my face again?”
“You really wear it on your face when you eat something tasty, Big Sis.”
“Shut up. Is that a crime?”
“Nope. I just think it’s cute.”
Yuno gave a mischievous, knowing grin.
Despite her teasing, she cut a tiny piece of pancake and popped it into her mouth. Her cheeks moved in small, rhythmic munches, and she narrowed her eyes, savoring the taste with a look of pure joy.
She’s like a little animal, I thought.
An unexpected tickle stirred in my chest, and my heart gave a sudden, erratic thump.
“You too…”
“Hmm?”
Still munching, Yuno looked up at me with wide, moist, round eyes.
Faced with that innocent expression, the words I had been about to say vanished down my throat.
“Nothing… it’s nothing.”
What on earth was I trying to say?
She really throws me off my game. I took a sip of coffee to calm my nerves.
As I neared the end of my pancakes, the image of Yuno crying last night suddenly surfaced again. Before I knew it, the words were out.
“Yuno.”
“Huh?”
Yuno blinked, looking at me in surprise.
“You can stay. Here.”
“Eh?”
“Until you’re satisfied… I mean, I’m not forcing you, but…”
Feeling embarrassed, I averted my gaze.
After a short silence…
“Okay…” Yuno nodded quietly, but firmly.
“You know,” Yuno said softly after taking another bite of pancake. “When you suddenly called my name just now, my heart felt all ticklish. Is that what ‘liking’ someone feels like?”
I nearly spat out the coffee I had just sipped.
“Hardly. If you actually liked someone, I think you’d find it too important to put into words so lightly. Probably.”
“Aha, I guess so. You’re right.”
After nodding once, Yuno looked down and continued eating. Her expression was serene, looking far softer than it had the night before.
Taking a breath, Yuno continued.
“I don’t really understand ‘liking’ or anything, but…”
“Mm.”
“I think you’re different from other people.”
“In what way?”
“I thought it was normal to have sex in exchange for a place to live. So, when you told me I was ‘wrong,’ it… it surprised me yesterday.”
Not normal.
That is absolutely not normal.
Just what kind of adults had Yuno been living among until now?
Driven from her home by adult circumstances while she was still a child… how much had she had to swallow and endure alone?
The thought sent a sharp pang of pain through my heart.
“I see…” That was all I could manage to say.
I cleared the breakfast plates, finished my makeup and hair, and slung my bag over my shoulder.
“Well, I’m heading out.”
As I was putting on my shoes at the entrance, I felt a slight, soft weight press against my back.
Yuno had clung to me in a tight hug.
Her thin, white arms wrapped gently around my waist.
“Big Sis.”
“…What?”
“Thank you.”
Her sweet, small voice reached me from behind.
My heart hammered against my ribs, almost painfully.
My face felt hot. No words came to me.
This was a clearly different emotion from when Yuno first arrived here. It was now swirling around inside my head.
But it’s probably just my imagination. Just my imagination.
Desperately stuffing away the sense of dissonance I felt, I stepped outside.
Strangely, my pace toward the office felt lighter than usual.
Me, who no longer wants to fall in love, and Yuno, who doesn’t understand the feeling of love.
It seems our slightly distorted life together will continue for a while longer.