Chapter 34 The Walk Home with My Sister 2 (Hibiki's Perspective)

The Walk Home with My Sister 2 (Hibiki’s Perspective)

“…Nee-san, you were completely rejected, weren’t you? A clean and sharp rejection, leaving no room for doubt.”

“Haha… Hibiki, your bluntness never ceases to amaze me. You really don’t hold back.”

“…Being straightforward and honest is my motto. Besides, as women of the Amamiya family, ‘Always give your all and strike decisively when the time comes’ is our creed.”

“Haa, since when did that become our creed…? And stop making up family rules on your own, okay?”

Nee-san let out a big sigh.

But there was no trace of gloom in her expression—just a wry smile.

—I can still vividly recall how Nee-san was back then.

After being rejected and coming home, she was utterly crushed. When she finally came out of her room, her eyes were swollen.

On top of that, she even made a declaration in front of the family that she’d stay single for the rest of her life…

“…By the way, Nee-san, you said earlier that marriage isn’t the starting point. What did you mean by that?”

“Well, think about it. Even if you say ‘getting married,’ the circumstances leading up to it can vary, right? It could be the result of a great romance—or maybe, in some extreme case, coercion.”

“…Coercion? That’s a bit of an extreme example.”

“Ahaha! True, but it gets the point across, doesn’t it? And honestly, this situation is kind of similar.”

She ruffled my hair like I was a puppy, and then, after she stopped, she gave me a soft smile.

“…Similar? From my perspective, it just seems like you should just accept it and move on.”

“No, it’s not that simple. Sure, some people might be able to call that happiness and move on. But Ariga-cchi is the type to agonize over things like, ‘Did I ruin someone else’s life?’ or ‘Was this really the right thing to do?’ for the rest of his life.”

“That sounds exhausting. Does he really have to worry that much?”

“Yep, it really is. Well, you might not understand, Hibiki, since you’ve never fallen in love before~.”

“…Hmph.”

I couldn’t come up with a rebuttal to that.

My classmates love to talk about romance.

I’ve never understood why they get so worked up about it.

I mean, what’s the big deal? Why go to so much trouble?

Honestly, I find it baffling.

Compared to academic problems, this is a much harder problem to grasp.

Spending time on something so irrational and uncertain… what’s the point?

As I furrowed my brow, lost in thought, Nee-san gently stroked my head and said with a warm smile, “You’ll understand once you experience it for yourself.”

Her smile was so captivating that even I, as her sister, felt a little flustered.

Yeah, a smile like that feels unfair.

“You see, my idea of ‘dating’ and Ariga-cchi’s idea of ‘dating’ are completely different.”

“…I don’t quite follow.”

“Well, I’m a student, right? But Ariga-cchi is a working adult. You get what I mean, don’t you?”

“…Oh, so you mean marriage comes into the picture?”

“Exactly! While some students might think about marriage, it’s much more prominent for working adults. That’s why they tend to approach relationships more cautiously. And Ariga-cchi is…”

“…Someone who’s been through a failed marriage, making him even more cautious.”

“Yeah… that’s right.”

Her sad face showed a faint trace of anger.

I could tell that Nee-san had her own feelings about it.

About the woman who had cheated on and abandoned someone so important to her.

I’d heard Nee-san had met her once. At the time, she said she wanted to pounce on her.

But being able to hold back those emotions might be one of Nee-san’s strengths.

As I glanced at her from the corner of my eye, I saw her biting her lip tightly before letting out a small sigh.

Then, as if flipping a switch, she returned to her usual cheerful self.

“This is just my opinion, but do you mind if I share it?”

“…Of course, go ahead.”

“Thanks. What I think I need to focus on moving forward is… becoming ‘the person who understands him the best’. That’s my goal.”

“…Becoming someone who understands him best?”

Isn’t she already the one who understands him best?

I swallowed those words before they came out.

If I said that now, she might stop sharing her thoughts with me.

“Yes, someone who understands him best. You see, dating might seem like it’s all up to personal choice, and marriage might seem like a decision you make yourself, but in reality, that’s not entirely true.”

“…Dating is a verbal promise. Marriage is a written contract, right?”

“Ugh, well, technically, you’re right! But that’s not what I mean~!”

Nee-san puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction at my response.

Then, with a sigh, she continued.

“Because marriage inevitably involves others, right? It’s not just about the two of you—it affects your family, your relatives, and even your friends if you talk to them about it. It’s completely different from just dating. Marriage is that heavy of a decision. It has the power to change the lives of many people.”

“…I see. If you married Ariga-san, he’d be my brother-in-law, and I’d be involved too.”

“Exactly. That’s why becoming family isn’t a decision you can make lightly. And for him, having gone through one failed marriage already, he probably feels even more apologetic toward his family.”

“…But they might sympathize with him, don’t you think?”

“Maybe so. But at the same time, they’d probably have mixed feelings. Things like, ‘Will it be okay this time?’ or ‘Can he really move on?’ I’m sure they’d feel all sorts of conflicting emotions.”

“…I understand now. So that’s why you’re thinking about becoming ‘the person who understands him the best’.”

“That’s right!”

She nodded firmly and then stretched, raising a fist toward the sky.

“Alright, time to give it my all~!”

Her occasional energetic gestures like this are so endearing that I can’t help but feel like smiling.

Of course, I held it in because showing it would be embarrassing.

“…Nee-san, you’ve really matured. You used to be prickly, like a sea urchin.”

“A sea urchin, huh~… Well, I can’t deny that.”

“…But honestly, I like the way you’ve changed. I prefer the Nee-san you are now.”

“Haha, thanks! But hearing that from my little sister is a bit embarrassing~.”

Nee-san blushed and laughed shyly.

Compared to how she used to be, her emotions are much easier to read now.

While I was thinking about that, we reached a stoplight and paused to wait.

As silence settled over us for a moment, Nee-san suddenly spoke, her tone reflective.

“You know, looking back, I went through a lot… But that’s why I’ve come to value every connection I have.”

“…Connections?”

“Yeah. Because… I know what it feels like to love someone dearly, and I also know what it feels like to lose them.”

Nee-san smiled gently as she spoke.

Her eyes, clear and calm, carried a sense of determination.

As expected… she’s much more mature than I am.

I can’t hope to compete with her in terms of emotional strength.

She has a depth of character that I could never match.

With a wry smile, I looked straight at her.

“…Nee-san, you’re amazing. You’ve been through so much.”

“Fufu~. Well, that’s because I’m the older sister! Let me have a little bit of pride, okay?”

“…It’d be nice if you could stop chickening out at crucial moments, though.”

“Hibiki! That was unnecessary!!”

Even as she protested, Nee-san laughed happily.

How can she laugh so freely when it comes to the complexities of love?

I can’t understand it.

But… I can’t help but admire it.

Her expressions, her liveliness, her unwavering determination—

To me, it’s dazzling.

Would I become more perceptive about people’s emotions if I experienced love myself?

Hmm… I don’t know.

But one thing is certain—

I want Nee-san to find happiness.

That’s the one thing I have no doubts about.