Running through the streets, it was obvious that I'd attract even more gazes than usual, but I couldn't even care in the slightest as I increased my pace even more, making my way straight to the train station. I really do owe Midori for this... I've never been one to deceive like this, lying to my manager about being sick, and I most certainly didn't want to bring Midori along with the lie as well, but she was the one that suggested it. Besides... I couldn't think up a better idea with how jumbled my head was, so I took her up on her offer.
After I finally reach the entrance to the train station, I quickly pull out my phone to check on the time. The display reads 3:35pm. I'm not too sure on when the trains comes and goes, but I'm fairly sure that around this time was when we all split up on Saturday... That said, I think I should probably slow down now that I'm here. I don't want to miss anything.
I've never really been here all that much before, but I find my way to the boarding zone where people come in and out. Looking around the people waiting for the next train, most of them consist of students around my age and also around my brother's age, however, there's still no sign of Reina...
"..."
I can't make a scene here... I just need to be patient and wait. If I knew where my sister was headed on the train then I would've purchased a ticket and jump on the next train, but because of my stupidity, I'm stuck having to wait for my sister, hoping that she'll come to me.
Once the next hour passed, a train finally arrived as hordes of people came flooding out onto the platform. I sit up from the bench I was sitting on as I wait breathlessly while looking for any sight of my sister. Time feels like it's moving in slow motion as I dart my eyes around, searching desperately for her, but it was when the final person came out did time seem to flow normally once more.
"...Khh!"
Clinging to my chest, I sit back down in defeat as the students that were with me all begin to board the train. Calm down, Luna... There's still some time left... Looking at the times for the trains, another one is expected to arrive here in thirty minutes. Surely my sister, Reina will be on there, if not the next one at 5pm.
.....
....
.
But as if the world was trying to punish me even further, as I wait all the way to 5pm, seeing another two trains come by, there was still no sign of my sister anywhere. This station is open well into the night, but the arrival of the trains do change to every hour after 6pm. A part of me wants to abandon this and go to work, but the other 90% of me is drowning it out in favor of staying here, even all the way till 10pm if I have to. For the first time in nearly a decade, I've finally found a hint of where my sister is, and to think she'd be this close... I cannot risk missing her if I just choose to turn back now.
"...Maybe I should've brought a blanket or something though."
I could go back now, but I'll most likely miss the next train in the next thirty minutes. I guess I could wait till the 6pm train and if she's not here, I can quickly go back and-
"No."
Talking out loud, I try to throw that idea away. Nicole said that she saw me, my sister go "inside" the train, not come out. Which means that maybe she could arrive here at anytime. There's no way I'm risking anything now...
Time goes by as well as the trains, but every time I watch people come in and out of the trains, as well as watching people come inside the train station, I still can't seem to find my sister, let alone even a single strand of her silvery-white hair. I did think about the possibility that she might dye it, or even wear a wig like me, but if that's the case then Nicole wouldn't have mistaken my sister as me. Which rules out the possibility that I missed her. No, I could've already missed her... There was a train at 3:30pm as well as 3pm. She could've already left by then on either of those trains...
"Even still... I can't."
I can't just leave... Not like this.
So, I stay at the train station as the amount of people slowly decrease, that is until the 7pm train comes around as a sudden wave of adults came flooding in and out of the train. I guess they all must've finished work or something? Even so, I kept my eyes open, but my expectations of finding my sister have long since dwindled as once again, there's still no sign of her.
Soon, the bench I was sitting on became even more empty, as the encroaching darkness of the night soon enveloped me along with it's cold, even my legs are growing cold due to sitting down on this bench for so long, cutting off circulation. In hindsight, I should've just went and got a blanket, but I'm in too deep at this point. But as I think this, my phone ends up buzzing in my bag as I slowly pull out my phone to read the message.
Midori: "It went well! Your manager just said to call him back when you're feeling better. My dad came to pick me up though, but it was fun to chat with him. I'm almost tempted to ask if I can work there as well, haha."
I can't help but smile softly at Midori's message. It was knawing at the back of my head, wondering if my work will really be okay, so to hear at least some good news regarding that, I can't help but feel relieved.
Luna: "Thank you."
Midori: "No problem~ How are things on your end?"
Luna: "I'm still at the train station. Still haven't found my sister."
Midori: "What?! At this time?! Luna..."
Luna: "I'm fine. It's not that late."
Midori: "But isn't it cold? Plus, what if something bad happens?"
Luna: "This is coming from someone who was out wandering out at this time of the night before?"
Midori: "Mmmm~ Fine. But promise me that you'll head back home soon okay?"
Luna: "Okay."
I send that last message as I feel a sting in my chest. It's only after I pressed send that I realize that I still don't want to leave the train station.
Midori: "Good. Dinner's almost ready so I'll chat with you soon!"
Luna: "Nn. Have fun."
Ah... Now thinking about food, my stomach begins to churn at the thought. I did see some vending machines not far from here and I do have my card with me. I guess I could just have food from there for my dinner tonight, but that would chip into my savings... Once again, a part of me wants to just go back home and cook myself some dinner as well, yet the vast majority of me refuses to do that as I'm left still seated on the bench, leaning up against the side.
"...Please."
Another hour passes, and another train arrives, but the fatigue that's steadily growing in my body now begins to creep over me. Even so, I don't miss a single head as I watch people come in and out of the train with half closed eyes. But even then... There's still no sign of her.
Ahh... I have to wait another hour, right? Just the thought of that forces a yawn out of me as my eyes struggle to stay open any longer. At first I thought that this bench was a bit uncomfortable, but I'm slowly succumbing to it's steadily growing comfort as my eyes slowly begin to shut, only for me to open them abruptly upon realizing it.
"Not...yet."
Two more trains... Two more trains and I can go home... Two... more...hours...
"...Sis-ter."
.....
...
"-Excuse me"
Hmm?
"Excuse me."
Who's that voice? Huh?
"Ma-am!"
"Eh?!
I suddenly wake up to the sudden yell, and upon looking up, I notice a man in some sort of uniform along with a flashlight pointed straight at me, blinding me as I can only barely open my eyes.
"The last train has left. Please head home immediately. A student like yourself shouldn't be out at this time of the night."
"Huh?"
Wait... The last train has left? Wait! I fell asleep?!
Quickly checking the time on my phone, the display does read 10:12pm.
"If you need help to contact your parents, then I'll be happy to-"
"No... Thanks."
I cut him off before standing up from the bench, picking up my bag in the process before leaving the station. Of course as part of his job, he ends up escorting me out, making sure I do in fact leave before locking up.
I feel even more frustrated at myself with not being able to catch my sister, but I'm far too tired to even vent it out at this point as I slowly make my way back to my apartment. But it's when I feel my clothes growing heavier and colder that I realize that it's raining. God surely doesn't exist, right? Or is this some kind of punishment for me having fallen asleep? I didn't hear that it was going to rain this morning, but here we are once again... I swear they need to hire a better weather reporter or something, 'cause this is just getting ridiculous...
After running quite shakily through the rain for a bit over thirty minutes, I eventually make it back to my apartment. But of course I'm completely drenched from head to toe as I quickly end up creating a pool of water inside by the front door.
"I hate this..."
I quickly strip my clothes off right then and there before throwing them into the washing machine, using this moment to dry my hair and body with a towel. After, I stuff some paper towels inside my shoes, hoping that they'll be dry by morning, but as soon as I finish, I collapse on the bed, not bothering to put on anything and just stay in my underwear, wanting to forget about this stupid failure... With my eyes closed, I reach around until my arms reach the stuffed bunny plushie as I feel my consciousness waning every moment.
.....
...
"Mm-mmm~"
So soft... I'm thankful that I honestly haven't damaged it further after the car crash. I've thought about taking it to get repaired, but I could never get around the idea of parting with it. This is the only thing that truly connects me to-
"Good morning, sis~"
"Mmm?"
Opening my eyes, the room is warmly illuminated by the sunlight seeping in through the curtains. But my eyes were entirely entranced by the person laying next to me. Their hair graciously cascading over the pillow with a bright smile on her face.
"R-Reina?"
"Mhmm! Hehehe. You were asleep for quite some time, sis."
Ahh~ Could I still be dreaming? Or is Reina actually here? Was I too tired on my way back to my apartment that I forgot something like this? I don't think I recall locking my door, so she might've snuck her way inside. Plus this warmth...
Wrapping my arms around my sister as we lay down in bed like this, I feel an immense amount of comfort spreading through my body as I feel the corners of my mouth steadily rise. Reina ends up doing the same thing, as if imitating me as the warmth in my chest only continues to spread. This is real, right?
"Reina?"
"Mhmm. I'm here. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"R-Reina!"
All the warmth inside me began to burst out of my eyes as I bury my face in my sister's chest, soaking my tears in her pajamas as she tightens her hold around me.
"This isn't a dream, right?"
"I hope not, hehe. I wouldn't want to say goodbye to you if it was."
"Mhmm!"
After crying for a bit, I pull my face away as I once again look my sister in the eyes. My eyes perfectly mirrored by her own silvery-grey eyes. It's like I'm looking at myself in the mirror, but unlike the times I did when I got ready for school or work, instead of feeling disgusted, or frustrated, the only feeling I'm feeling now is of pure bliss as the warmth quickly returns to my chest.
"Sis..."
"Reina..."
Our faces naturally come closer until our foreheads gently press against one another. I can't feel much of a difference in temperature, which means that Reina must also be feeling the same thing. But as I closed my eyes about to go any further-
"HAH!"
I was suddenly awoken by a blaring alarm as I immediately went to turn it off. It was when I turned it off did I realize that that was all just a dream... Even the curtains in my room looked bleak as I could still hear the sound of the rain. As much as I want to try and go back to sleep to enjoy that dream, I know that I need to get ready for school.
But it was when I got up from my bed that my head quickly felt foggy as I quickly lost my balance. Thankfully my bed was behind me so I just sat back down on my bed as a wave of heat quickly assaulted my head.
"Wha- ahcoo!"
Huh? Wait... I quickly check my forehead with my hand. I think it does feel a little hot than I'm used to. My legs also feel quite weak even as I try and put more weight on them, trying to get back up from my bed. And almost instantly upon trying, I feel a sharp, stinging pain radiate throughout my head, forcing me to remain seated on the bed. Just what is this? Am I sick?
After sitting in bed for a bit longer, looking at my family portrait; of my sister, I muster the strength to properly stand up as I put all my focus into keeping my balance while trying to block out the banging headache that seems to be only getting worse.
"Ughh..."
My nose feels clogged... I don't have any tissues so I guess I'll have to buy some after school. Wait no... I need to go back to the train station after school. I guess I have the paper towels, so I guess they'll do for now...
But as I was blowing my nose, my stomach suddenly churns in pain as I suddenly remember that I didn't eat anything last night. Ugh... I don't want to cook anything... Maybe toast will do for now? Whilst in thought, I already pull out a couple pieces of bread before putting them into the toaster, using the kitchen top to help stabilize myself all the while.
I end up throwing on my uniform while waiting for the toast, but as I go to brush my hair, I feel my headache only worsen with every brush I make. Not wanting to put up with it for much longer, I only get rid of the main knots before pinning my hair back with the hairpin. Right, I'll also need a mask. I'm pretty sure there was one in one of these drawers...
I'm not really too sure how much time has passed, but eventually, I filled my stomach with some toast, hydrating myself with some water and even found a mask that was tucked away in a box in one of the drawers. I really don't want to go to school like this, but if I don't, I'll only trouble my guardian as the school will most certainly contact him. This whole arrangement is because of my selfishness of wanting to live alone. I need to prove that I can take care of myself, and in order to do that, I need to get to school myself. Ughh... But my head feels so heavy right now. Thank god I don't need to go to work. Wait...
I pull out my phone from my bag in order to contact my manager. I find it funny that Midori made up the lie that I was sick so that I could go find my sister, but here I am, now "actually" sick.
"Huh?"
That's when I notice that I had a missed call and three unread messages... All from Midori.
Midori 8:15pm: "Hey, did you make it home okay?"
Midori 8:44pm: "Hey, Luna. You ARE at home now, right? You're not still at the train station, right?"
Midori (missed call)
Midori 8:52pm: "I hope that your phone is just dead. I need to go to sleep soon. I hope you have a good night. <3"
This must've been when I accidentally passed out at the train station... To think I even slept through a phone call...
"Eh?"
Just then, a new message was just sent to me as I was looking over the texts.
Midori: "Ah! You read them! Thank god... I was worried."
Ah, right. I guess I did leave her messages unread until now. Wait... But the timing seems too good. Did she seriously stare at her phone, waiting for me to see them? I guess I'll send a reply back. I can do that much.
Luna: "Yeah, sorry. When I got home from the train station I was just so tired and fell asleep. I'm sorry to have worried you."
Midori: "Not at all! I'm glad that you're okay! <3"
I'm a bit far from "okay" exactly, but I don't want to worry her any further. Just then, I feel my throat begin to tickle as I end up coughing a few times, trying to clear my throat. This sucks... Yeah, I'll keep this to myself if I can...