I would've thought that things would begin turning around after meeting Yume, after learning where my sister was, and even the school she was attending. Of course I told my brother about it and he was as thrilled as me when he heard the news. He said that he'd try to work over there the next chance he gets to make sure that what Yume said was true, which did give me a peace of mind. He said he just needs to wait for a slot to open up for him. However, things aren't going as well as I'd hoped for on my end.
Checking my phone like this while laying down in bed, staring at it intently for what feels like hours, waiting for a message. It's all that I've been thinking about leading up to this weekend, yet even now after I finished work, there's still no messages from my sister. It's times like these that I wished that Yume had a phone of her own so that I don't need to be this anxious constantly. Has Yume given my number to Reina yet? Does Reina even have a phone? I know our grandparents were a bit strict, especially our grandfather, but not to go as far as restricting phone access. From what I remember of him, he's quite protective, so I believe that he'd actually go out of his way to make sure Reina had a phone on hand in case of emergencies. Which leaves me wondering like this, wondering why Reina hasn't sent me a message yet...
"Ah!"
Just then, a messaged popped up in front of my eyes, but my smile quickly faded as I realized who it's from.
Midori: "Hey. Did you get home from work okay?"
But my smile quickly returns after reading the message. She sure cares about stuff like this, huh.
Luna: "Yeah, I got home safely."
Midori: "Oh! A fast reply!"
Luna: "Haha, yeah. I was already on my phone."
Midori: "You think we can call for a bit?"
Call... I guess it'll be better than sitting around waiting all night for my sister's message.
Luna: "Sure."
Midori: "Okay! Once sec."
And in the next moment, my phone starts to ring as I immediately pick up.
"Good evening~"
"Good evening to you too."
"Hehe, sorry if I'm bothering you."
"It's okay. I wasn't doing much anyways."
"Have you eaten yet?"
"Pfft. Yeah, I just had some left overs from last night."
Sometimes it feels like Midori's like a mom with how she acts. Ah... I really shouldn't have thought of that. I quickly take a deep breath, trying not to think too much on the past.
"Ah, the pizza? Hehe, it's good right?!"
The left overs in question was actually the place where Midori bought the pizza back when she first bought me dinner. I haven't had much energy to cook much this week, so I asked Midori where that pizza place was, and just like she said just now, it sure was delicious even with it being a day old.
"Nn, but I would've preferred to eat it all in one day if I could."
"That's not good! You have to stay in shape!"
"Well you could've come over and helped me finish it."
"I wish~ But with the end of year exams coming up, even my mother wants me to stay back and study."
At first I thought her mother was more lax when it comes to Midori, letting her wear what she wants freely, but it appears that her mother does care about Midori's academics as well.
"Well maybe next time then."
"Ah, then what about tomorrow!"
Her raised voice clearly tells me how much excitement is going through her right now when she brought that up, but I don't feel the same way. Tomorrow is Saturday, arguably the best day to get in contact with Yume to try and learn more about my sister. Hell, it's even possible that she might even bring my sister with her as well. I can't afford to miss that.
"Sorry, maybe not tomorrow."
"Oh? D-did you have plans?"
"Nn. I'm planning on meeting Yume at the library tomorrow."
"...Yume. She's the girl you met last week, right? Kai's childhood friend?"
"Nn..."
In stark contrast to her excited tone just before, her voice now feels a lot more quieter in comparison, like ocean waves smoothing over after breaking through the shores.
"Are you okay?"
"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine, sorry."
This isn't the first time that she acted this way. The last time we talked about Yume, Midori also started to act a bit strangely. I really want to ask about it, but I don't want to cause her any discomfort either, leaving me silent, not knowing what to say next.
"Th-then what about Sunday?"
"Sunday? Don't you need to prepare to leave for your dad's place?"
"I can stay with my mom an extra week. Exams are important, so until the exams are finished, I'll be switching every second week instead."
"Doesn't that defeat the purpose then if you hang out with me?"
"I... I guess, heheh."
What's with her? It almost feels like she's desperate in a way, which is a side I haven't seen of her before. Does she really want to hang out with me that much that she'd throw away a day of studying? In that case-
"Okay. Sunday works for me, but we'll still be studying."
"Re-really?!"
"Nn. I don't want to anger you parents."
"Pfft, hehehe."
Hearing her laugh at the other end does alleviate some of the weight that was growing on me. I also end up smiling upon hearing her like this.
"Then tell me your address."
"Eh?"
"Your address. We'll be studying there."
"Wait, what? I thought that I'd come over to 'your' place."
"But wouldn't your mother be concerned? Like I said, I don't want to worry your parents."
"...Okay."
Her tone once more dropped to a quieter tone, but I could still feel as though she was smiling on the other end of the phone.
"Goodnight~"
"Nn. Goodnight."
After talking for what felt like an hour, we finally hang up as I quickly check one last time for any new messages. But just like before, there was nothing, only my chat history with Midori. She did end up telling me her address, and I can't say I've ever heard of her street before. I guess I can look it up somewhere while I'm at the library tomorrow. We have maps available there so it shouldn't be too hard.
"Hahh~ Exams, huh."
I can't say that I've ever really studied at home before, let alone at someone else's. When it comes to exams and tests, I've never had any problems, scoring in the 90/100 range easily, but that's probably due to my time in the library during my free time. So studying at Midori's place doesn't seem like it'll do that much for me, but if it'll help out Midori, then I don't mind. She's done a lot for me, so it's only natural for me to pay her back. But that's for Sunday, tomorrow will be the most important day for me, and just like that, my body stiffens up in bed as I hold onto the stuffed bunny plushie, seeking comfort in it as I think about whether Yume will actually show up, let alone my sister.
"..."
("Sis-")
("...Mm?")
("Sis, are you asleep?")
("I was, hehe.")
Flipping over onto my other side, I'm met with the familiar face of my sister, Reina. Her eyes seeming to me gleaming even in the dark room. We keep out voices quiet to not wake up our parents or our brother.
("Did you think of anything for brother's birthday?")
("Not yet.")
("Ah- me either!")
("It's hard to do this in secret, hehe. Maybe we should've told mom and dad?")
("Nuh uh! They might tell him!)
It's a silly thing to admit, but even though we love our parents, when it comes to things like this, we only keep it to ourselves; my sister and I.
("But we don't have anything to give him.")
("Mmmm... That's true.)
With us being so young, it's not like we can just go out ourselves and buy something.
(""Ah!"")
Just then, both of our eyes lit up, as if we both came to the same thought.
(""What about 'making' something!"")
We both say the same thing as we both giggle to one another before quickly shutting up after noticing how loud we were getting.
("Uhm, then what do you think we should make, sis?")
("Maybe a letter?")
("Ah~ I was thinking the same thing!")
We both have gotten quite good at writing now. It's still nowhere as pretty as our mom's or even our dad's, but I like to think that it's readable enough. Maybe after tomorrow I can have mom teach me how to write as neatly as her.
And so, the two of us snuck out of bed and collected a few materials we needed under the darkness of the night, keeping our footsteps as light as possible. It felt exciting doing something we were not supposed to, especially on a school night, but in our eyes, our brother was more important, so it was worth the risk.
Suddenly, as Reina and I were searching around drawers in the living room, looking for a pencil and a card, just as we found what we were looking for, the light suddenly turned on, blinding our eyes in an instant as we both desperately looked around. It didn't take long for Reina and I to look in the same direction. There stood our mom, towering above us.
("And what are you two doing up, hmm~?")
We both were at a loss of words at being questioned, and the smile on our mother's face didn't feel as inviting as it appeared to be.
("Fufu~)
It was then that she chuckled, only further leaving Reina and I at a loss of what to do or even how to react.
("I see~ Come, let me help you.")
("E-eh?")
("You want to make your brother a card, right? Can mama help?")
Reina and I both look to each other in disbelief. We both were thinking the same thing, thinking that we'd be punished and be forced back into bed, which only left us even more speechless.
(""Yes!"")
("Shh~ We don't want to wake the boys, fufu.")
Our legs began to move on their own as we followed our mom to the dining room table.
The three of us sat on the table as our mom collected some more things needed to make the card. Reina and I thought that a pencil and paper would be enough, but our mom had brought over many other things, including stickers as well. It was almost like she came prepared.
("What would you like to write?")
Our mom proceeded to help us writing what we wanted on the card by guiding our hand strokes of every letter, making sure that they're clean and pretty. Reina had the right side of the card to write on, meanwhile I had the left side.
("What sticker would you like?")
("This one!")
("Shhh~ Keep your voice down, Reina. You don't want papa or your brother to wake up, right?")
("S-sorry...")
("Fufufu. It's alright. So this one?")
("Mhmm!")
Slowly, with our mom's help, we finished with the card. Our mom even drew a few extra things on the front of it that Reina and I wanted on it. Two bunny rabbits hugging onto both of the legs of a cute dog. I didn't even need to ask mom what it meant to know that Reina and I were the bunnies and our brother was the dog, but my eyes were still glued to it in wonder. Our mom made it look so easy, not making a single mistake with the drawing.
("Mmmmm~ I miss drawing like this.")
Our mom has such a radiant smile as she too looked over her drawing, but I could feel that she had a hint of sadness mixed in as well. It was like her mouth was the only part of her that was smiling...
(""Mom?"")
Reina seemed to have caught on as well as we both voiced our concerned at the same time.
("Ah, it's okay. It's just been a while since I had time to draw like this. It's refreshing. Anyways, it's gotten far too late now. Why don't we go back to bed, okay?")
(""Okay~ Thanks mama!"")
("Fufu. Sweet dreams~")
With our card in hand, we return to our bed as the two of us quickly pass out, hiding the card under our pillow in case our brother were to walk in.
.....
...
"Mmmm...mm?"
Ah, another dream... Sitting up, I realize the morning has already come with the light peaking through the curtains, although my vision is quite blurry.
After wiping the tears from my eyes, freeing my eyes from all the crust, I immediately go into the bathroom to wash my face properly. Right... Today is the day after all, even though I have no idea whether Yume will actually turn up or not. Despite that, I'll stay at the library for as long as I can.
Returning from the bathroom, I get myself dressed and ready to go out, but that's when my eyes wander to the table next to my bed which had an envelope of money on top of it.
"Hmm..."
Maybe I could use it instead of banking it...
"Thank you for purchasing with us~"
I exit the electronic store and begin making my way to the library. Actually, wouldn't this be a good chance to maybe rent some books here for our study session tomorrow? That could be an idea. I forgot to ask what subjects Midori has problems with, but I guess I could quickly message her about it.
Making my way inside, I finish sending the text to Midori as I quickly begin searching around the library for Yume while also looking around for some study materials. I want to leave a good impression on Midori's mom, so I best be prepared. Just then, I feel my phone vibrate as I had switched it to silent mode before entering. Thankfully it's just Midori's response.
Midori: "I guess math? Oh and I guess science as well. But jeez, you're up so early, hehe."
Science? What kind? Does she mean chemistry? Or physics? Or does she mean everything as a whole?
Luna: "I can say the same to you, haha. Anyways, what science class in specific?"
Midori: "Uhm... All of them?"
Figures... But knowing Midori, I'd bet she isn't particularly "bad" at any of them. She looks to be a girl with a good head on her shoulders, which is funny to think about after how I first met her that one night. If the past me heard the me now say such a thing, I'd think that I'd be speaking something crazy.
Luna: "Alright. I'll pick out a few things form the library for us today. I'll talk to you again when I finish up here."
Midori: "Unfair~ At least let me pay you back!"
Luna: "It's nothing, really. They're not that expensive."
Midori: "Then don't worry about dinner! I'll have mom cook something for you!"
Luna: "Already gave up on learning how to cook?"
Midori: "Hnnng. I thought you wanted us to focus on studying~"
Luna: "You got me there, haha."
Midori: "Alright! Then message me when you finish up, okay?"
Luna: "Got it. Talk to you later."
It still baffles me how close I've gotten with someone like Midori, someone who's not family. I'm even catching myself smiling when responding to her messages. It's such a strange feeling.
"Psst."
Just then, I feel a tap on my shoulder as I quickly turn around.
"I didn't think you'd be here this early."
It was Yume, wearing the same scarf around her neck when I met her along with other warm clothing. I wonder if she's also sensitive to the cold like Midori is?
"I can say the same for you."
"Hehe."
Well, from the looks of it, Reina doesn't seem to be with her which is a bit of a let down. But that wasn't the only thing it seems as Yume's smile faded in the next couple seconds.
"Yume?"
"...You think we can do to someone where more private?"