This library doesn't have much in terms of space for private reading areas, but we inevitably find a place away from anyone else so that we don't disturb any of the readers. One of my co-workers did spot us and checked up on us, but after they left I didn't think that they had recognized me. I'm not wearing my wig after all.
"This sorta feels like we're doing something illegal, hehe."
Is that what it feels like to her? Either way, I want to cut right to the chase.
"So my sister didn't come with you?"
"Ah...Nn..."
Her mood quickly shifted with her smile now quickly faded.
"I figured."
"But it's not like I even had the chance to! You see uhm... She actually hasn't returned back to school for the whole week. I couldn't even give her your number."
She brings out the piece of paper I gave her that had my contact details on it. I'm glad to know that Yume did in fact try, but it's a bit surprising to hear that Reina is the type of girl to skip school. Could that "important" thing that Yume was talking about seriously involve school like this? What could even happen for someone to just drop out of school like this?
"And you're sure that she didn't tell you anything about what she's doing?"
"No. Not a word."
Reina... If only you had told Yume at least a little bit of what was going on then maybe I could've had a lead. But I guess I'm not one to judge as I too was the same before I got to know Midori.
"What did the teacher say?"
"They didn't know either. Everyone's concerned about her as well."
"Even though you said she doesn't have many friends?"
"Yeah, well... She is pretty famous you see, hehe. She aces all of her exams."
"Really?"
"Mhmm!"
My sister did pick up on studies a bit faster than me in the past. She was the first to learn her times tables and even write proper sentences. Of course I was never jealous of her as she had essentially become my practice partner growing up, making sure that I never fell behind her. I also helped out when it came to areas that she also struggled on. Maybe that's why I've grown to become quite well-rounded when it comes to exams, not worried about any particular subject, but to ace all of them? My sister must be striving for something.
"Hehe."
"Hmm? Luna?"
"Ah, nothing. Was just remembering something."
"It's weird."
"Huh?"
"Seeing you smile and laugh. I can't help but imagine how Reina would laugh like that."
"She doesn't smile?"
"Oh, she does, but it's always when I catch her alone. It's almost like she doesn't want anyone to see it."
"I see..."
Hearing these things about my sister does make my heart ache a little, but I also can't help but smile, knowing what's going on with my sister. That said, this meetup has basically become a failure, right? I guess that's what happens when I have my hopes up I suppose.
"Sorry I couldn't help."
"It's alright. Thank you for trying."
"I'll try to find her though! And when I do, I'll bring her straight to you!"
"Pfft, hehe. Why are you going so far for us anyways?"
"Ah- well... It's cause I admire your sister actually..."
"Oh?"
"I've known about her since middle school you see, and back then, she'd constantly be picked on because of her looks. I was actually friends with one of the girls that was apart of that."
Bullied? I guess that's not too surprising. We were constantly made fun of in elementary school. It was when our brother found out about it did the bullies finally stop. That said, hearing that my sister is getting bullied is unsettling.
"It's because of that that I had to keep my distance, to stay part of my friend group. But even so, Reina never seemed bothered by it and just took everything without worry. But just imagining the things those bullies doing those things to me. I don't think I could've held on."
The way Yume describes it sounds even more worse than I thought. For me, when I was in middle school, the worst thing that would happen is the occasional stares and dead-eyes. I was definitely being made fun of, but I wouldn't go as far as to say that it was bullying.
"But when I found out that I was in the same class as Reina in high school, I made the choice to change. A part of me thinks that the reason why Reina never opened up to me was because of me leaving her all alone back then..."
"...Maybe."
"Yeah... I thought so."
"But either way, thank you for looking after her through high school."
"Ah, it's nothing really. She's more like an idol now than anything, hehe. I didn't do much."
So similar to my current status? I wonder why people's attitude changes upon getting into high school?
"Even still, thank you, Yume."
"Y-yes..."
Hmmm, I guess now is a good time to give it to her? The conversation has reached a stopping point, so without wasting another moment, I reach into my bag before pulling out a box.
"Is that-?"
"Here."
"What?"
I extend the box to Yume, which caused her hands to retreat in shock, as if she couldn't believe what I just said.
"You don't have one, right? I think it's better if we kept in touch rather than meeting here randomly."
"B-but! Aren't phones like this expensive?!"
So she's aware of what smart phones are despite not ever owning one?
"It was, but I honestly have too much money that I'm not sure what to do with it. So-"
"But still! To spend so much money for me is just-"
"It's not just for me."
"Eh?"
"'I' want to keep in touch with you. If you think about it like that, then you could say that I'm buying this for myself."
"I-I see..."
Finally, she reluctantly accepts the box from my hands as she begins to inspect it. I watch as she slowly figures out how to open the box before finally revealing the phone in her hands with the charger still in the box.
"You could've bought something cheaper though, couldn't you?"
"I guess, but it's the same one I use, see?"
I show her my phone once again as she immediately begins comparing the two of them.
"Ah~ I never noticed!"
She looks somewhat pleased about it for some reason.
"So then how do you turn it on?"
And so, we spend out time in the library going over everything I know about the phone. That said, I'm not well versed when it comes to this as I only use it for texts and calls, so teaching her didn't take too long. We also exchanged contact information as well, sending each other a text just to make sure that everything works.
"This is so cool!~"
"Shhh."
"Ah- right. Sorry."
Cute. She completely forgot where we were, but I'm happy to know she likes it.
"Oh? What does this button do?"
"Hmm?"
I lean over to see Yume's phone as our shoulders bump into one another. Yume looks to have clicked on something that even I wasn't sure what it was.
"Uhm... This is new territory for me..."
"Eh? But aren't you meant to be the expert?"
"I wouldn't go that far, haha."
"Hmmm... Google... Ah!"
She tapped on a bar that was displayed which brought up the keypad, just like what happens when I text. Is this another messaging system I don't know of? Wanting to also learn, I bring out my phone and open up the same "Google" thing, and sure enough, it's the same thing as Yume's.
"Oh!"
When I look back over, Yume into another completely new territory as I have no idea what I'm even looking at. But in the bar that we both clicked on, Yume's read "birds," and below it was several things listing stuff and images about birds.
"You can search what you want and it pops up!"
"Huh?"
I was a bit clueless, but as I watch Yume play around with it more, I begin to understand it. Whatever Yume type into that search bar, a bunch of things display that matches what you typed.
"!"
In a panic, I quickly return to my own phone as I input my sister's name into the search bar. However, none of the results showed anything what I wanted. There was just a bunch of images and text about someone else with the same name.
"Hahh~"
Wait. Then what about her school? Not letting myself get down just yet, I input the name of Reina's and Yume's school into the search bar, and immediately, the exact location pops up. It's even including a small map as well. I guess that saves the issue with me trying to figure out where that is.
"Oh~ Wait, how did you get there?"
Yume looked over, curious about how I had gotten to the maps section. She ended up copying me as we both wound up at the same place.
Before we knew it, we spent the whole morning and some of the afternoon playing around with our phones, nearly running our batteries dry. We did end up moving to a different place to get food as we both continued to learn more about our phones, really pushing our batteries to their limits. But to think that there was more to my phone than I thought. This "Google" thing sure is amazing. I even looked up some recipes for some dishes that I was interested in and found quite a lot of interesting ones.
"So you like cooking?"
"Well, I live alone, but I guess I like it."
"Me too! I'm awful at it though, hehe, but my big sister is teaching me."
"Not your mom?"
"Well, my mom is busy with work, so yeah."
We continue to idly chat as we make our way to the train station. It was then that Yume glanced at the new wallpaper she added to her phone, which displayed a bird with blue feathers and a long black beak.
"And you like birds?"
"Mhmm! I love them!"
I had also learned about changing the wallpaper, but I wasn't sure what to put on there. I did see that there was an option to add pictures that I have taken, but I actually have never taken a picture on my phone yet, so I just stuck with the default wallpaper for now.
"Do you have one where you live?"
"Two! Ah! I wonder if I can send you a picture as well!"
"Hehe. We can test that when you get home then."
"Mhmm! Ah, but I will have to keep this phone a secret."
"Oooh. Good luck, haha."
"Hehe, thanks again, Luna!"
She beams a bright smile towards me as we walk. Her hands clutching her phone tightly against her chest.
"Just don't forget to let me know when you find my sister."
"Mhmm! I promise!"
We soon arrive at the station just in time for the passengers to board.
"Then I guess I'll see you later!"
"Nn. See you."
"Hehe, bye bye~"
With us waving at each other, Yume hops onto the train along with all the other passengers and before long, the train departed the station, leaving me all alone.
Making my way back to my apartment, I place the left over money I have onto the bedside table before sitting down on the side of my bed, plugging my phone into my charger.
"I'm glad that she accepted it..."
With this, I shouldn't need to worry as much over my sister. With Yume on the other side, I'll know when she comes back to school. Now I can just focus on-
"Shit!"
I quickly stand up upon realizing what I had forgotten. Ah, wait, but maybe I could just search things up on Goggle rather than buy books for studying?
Calming myself down, I begin looking up more things on Google, but I quickly find out how annoying it is. There's too much useless things here and not enough actual learning material that'd be helpful for the tests. There's probably a way to fine tune it, but I can't be bothered.
So, I quickly make my way back to the library to pick up some study material for tomorrow. I can't believe I was so preoccupied with Yume that I completely forgot about it... What a disaster that would be if I had turned up to Midori's place empty handed. Wait... Then maybe I should bring over a gift as well? She said her mom will cook dinner so maybe something that could go with it?
"Hmmm."
I ended up going with something safe, a box of chocolates as well as of course the books I rented from the library. It was then when I had returned back to my apartment a second time did I hear my phone vibrate in my bag. Pulling it out, I see that I have gotten a message, but it was something different to what I have seen in the past.
Yume: "I hope this sent!"
It was a short message, but with it was a picture of a bird cage. Inside were two green-feathered birds, with other bright colors mixed in. Seeing the pair of birds reminds me of my sister as the two birds look identical to one another. Are they also siblings? I cant help but feel envious of the birds as I stare at my screen. Just then, another message pops up.
Yume: "It worked! Yay!~"
The message quickly pulls me back to reality as I quickly type my reply.
Luna: "Yes. I got it."
Yume: "Can you see if it works for you?"
Luna: "Okay."
I sent that, yet I'm not entirely sure what to take a picture of.
However, it didn't take me long to figure that out as I pull my phone up in the direction of the bunny plushie that is resting on my bed. I carefully position the camera before taking the picture before slowly figuring out how to attach the picture to a message. After five or so minutes, I finally figure it out and send it to Yume.
Yume: "Ah! A bunny! Cute~"
Luna: "Thanks."
I smile upon reading Yume's message. In a way, it felt like Yume was calling my sister cute instead.
Yume: "Parents are coming! Gotta go!"
I was about to type a reply, but I catch myself in time and delete what I had written. I could've just screwed up and gave away Yume's phone to her parents. She hasn't set her phone to vibrate so her parents would surely found out. I guess I'll have to wait for Yume's next message before telling how to change that setting.