(POV Lilia)
My name was Lilia Mahigashi, and my little hobby involved pretending to be a returnee student. Lately, though, it seemed that nobody was buying it anymore.
When I told my mother about it, she said, “You’ll lose friends if you keep doing that, you know?”
But I wasn’t worried about that because I had a friend named Chinatsu.
“Chinatsu, what is it that you wanted to ask?”
“Yeah… well, hypothetically speaking, let’s say Lilia is the second daughter of quadruplets… and your two younger sisters liked the same person. What would you say to those two sisters?” Chinatsu asked.
Um, I guess this must be about her, right?
“… is this about Chinatsu?”
“Um… you could say that, I guess.”
“I-I see.”
I thought I could only say that, so I closed my mouth.
“I want to support both of them and make their love life happy… That’s why I will try to cheer them on, but somehow, my heart feels restless… I wonder why?” Chinatsu said.
“Um, umm, why is that?”
“You see, despite how I may appear, I’m actually quite surprising, or maybe a bit rough around the edges. I tend to not sweat the small stuff.”
“…”
Now that I look at her… well, no matter how you look at it…
“But, somehow… I just can’t seem…. to calm my heart…. It keeps lingering….in my mind.”
“…”
Her cheeks blushed slightly, and she started to fidget. What’s happening?
“W-what do you think I should do?”
“Um, umm, what if you try to be honest about your feelings? Maybe not necessarily confessing, but at least express how you care about him.”
“You mean… how I care about him, in a family-like way…”
It seemed that she was in a frustrating and complicated state of mind. As Chinatsu and I were talking in a corner of the classroom, someone approached us, walking as if they were trying to squeeze in between us.
“《《Uhm, Chinatsu-san》》”
Oh, it was Chika-chan. She always seemed a bit spooky with her eyes hidden, like a ghost, but she wasn’t a bad kid or anything. Well, I suppose I’m not one to talk, pretending to be a returnee myself, right? So, I feel a bit awkward around her.
“Eek!”
“Ah, sorry.”
“Ah, d-don’t worry about it! I-I just got scared on my own! I’m sorry!” Chinatsu said.
“It’s okay. Anyway…”
“Wow, that was a quick change of topic.”
Chika-chan, who appeared to be really unbothered, gestured as if to say there was no need to apologize… or something like that, and she changed the subject. I wondered what Chika-chan wanted by approaching Chinatsu.
“Chinatsu-san, you’re living together with Kaito-san, right?”
“Oh, yeah… that’s true.”
“Could you do me a favor and tell him I have something to discuss with him? Just say I’ll be waiting at the usual place.”
“Ah, sure. I understand… Eh? Sorry, I didn’t quite get what you said. Could you please start again from the beginning?”
“Huh? 《《Uhm, Chinatsu-san》》…”
“Oh, a bit after that, I think… I’m the one who wants to know.”
“…?”
“The usual place you mentioned earlier…… What do you mean by that?”
“Oh, I see. But it means exactly what it sounds like.”
“W-what do you mean… Ehh… w-what should I say to Aki and Fuyu…”
Chinatsu seemed flustered. Well, Chika-chan’s way of speaking did leave behind some hidden meaning.
Chinatsu panicked a bit, and Chika-chan tilted her head and returned to her seat. I pretty much understood what was going on. Chinatsu, you’re at that age when you start having feelings for someone…
You can do it, Chinatsu! You’re number one!
◆◆
(POV Chinatsu)
“Hmm.”
“What’s the matter?”
My younger sister, Aki, who had returned home from school, was sitting on the sofa with a perplexed expression. Aki had finished her homework and other tasks. I wonder what she’s thinking about.
“Mm… it’s nothing.” Aki said.
“No, that doesn’t seem convincing.”
“Well, I was actually thinking about dinner! I want to make something delicious for Kaito.”
“Oh, I see.”
“I want to cook something delicious for Kaito! I also want to make sure it’s healthy!”
When did she grow up so much? I had forgotten about that. She’s already in the sixth grade, and she’s getting closer to adulthood, so it’s not really surprising.
Maybe she’s being proactive because she likes Kaito and wants to support him.
“Is Kaito that important to you?” I asked.
“Yes!”
“You like him?”
“I like him!” Aki said.
“I see…”
“And what about you, Chinatsu?”
“…Well, yeah, I like him too.”
I felt embarrassed, but I didn’t want to admit how much I liked him. Fuyu and Haru had been watching TV together, so I left the living room and headed upstairs so as not to disturb them.
Entering his room, I lay down on his bed where he slept. It was a very large bed, obviously not meant for one person. He said it was the bed his parents used.
I was glad he had accepted me. We were different, not ordinary. It felt strange.
I should have been content with that. It was supposed to be the peak for me.
However, now, there’s a swirling mix of complex emotions within me. It feels like an insatiable hunger, of sorts, a dissatisfaction.
Wait, why am I not satisfied? This dissatisfaction keeps spreading. It feels unsettling. Maybe I’m just tired. Let me rest for a while.
I closed my eyes and fell asleep until dinnertime.
■◆
(POV Chinatsu)
“――Chinatsu, Chinatsu.”
Someone was calling me. It was a warm voice that made me involuntarily smile. I opened my eyes and looked up.
“If you sleep so much, you won’t be able to sleep at night, you know? Come on, it’s already time for dinner.”
“Kaito…”
Looking at his usual gentle smile, I naturally felt like being spoiled.
“Hug me tight.”
“Huh?”
“Just do it…”
“Uh, okay.”
He seemed a bit puzzled and hesitated for a moment. But then, he gently lifted me up and hugged me. I buried my face in his shirt.
“I’m feeling hungry.”
“Huh? Well, then we should eat something.”
“It’s not like that… I don’t really understand it myself. It’s like a feeling of hunger, if I were to put it into words.”
“I see…?”
“But right now, I feel content in a good way…”
“Is that so… After waking up, I don’t usually feel that hungry either.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
He didn’t understand at all. Even I didn’t know what I meant, but what he said was definitely wrong.
As I buried my face like this, I naturally felt fulfilled. Finally, my emotions reached their peak. What is this feeling exactly? What kind of state is it?
I wanted to convey it properly to him. Despite being in such a turbulent state, he had a calm expression. I wanted him to understand my current situation.
“Hey.”
“Hmm?”
“I think I might have become unable to live without Kaito.”
“…You shouldn’t say that out loud in public.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Just don’t. And also, don’t tell Chiaki, Chifuyu, and Chiharu about this. It’s a secret between you and me.”
He seemed to be in a hurry to finish his words. Did I choose my words poorly?
But, a secret between just the two of us…
“Ehehe, okay, got it.”
“Great!”
He was incredibly delighted. I kind of felt happy, too.
“Hey…”
“What’s wrong this time?”
“It’s about Aki and Fuyu… you know, what we talked about before.”
“Ah, that thing.”
“I don’t think I can give them advice after all.”
“Huh? Oh, really? Why?”
“Well… it’s just… I feel like I’m getting hungry.”
“…I-Is that so? Does that mean you’re overeating due to stress?”
“Yeah, it’s fine for now.”
He gave me a look that seemed to say dinner was ready, everyone must be waiting, but I ignored it. I didn’t want to go for dinner because I felt like I’d get hungry.
“Hey, my carefully prepared meal… It’s getting cold again!”
Aki, seeming exasperated, looked like she was coming to get me. Upon seeing Kaito and me, she started to pout in anger.
“It’s typical of Kaito… always hugging Chinatsu…”
“It’s not like that… I think.”
“Mu, then I’ll hug you too!”
Aki hugged him while standing next to me and gazing at Kaito with a passionate look as they chatted. Kaito, in return, looked at Aki and affectionately ruffled her hair.
I should be happy, and I don’t really want to deny it.
…But I’m feeling hungry.
Something suddenly crossed my mind. I tried to slightly interrupt their conversation by mentioning it.
“Oh, by the way, Chika said she has something to talk to Kaito about. She said she’d be waiting at the usual spot…”
“Mu, there’s Kaito’s typical behavior, always becoming friends with elementary school girls.”
“Please don’t word it like that. Oh, and thanks for letting me know, Chinatsu.”
I actually wanted to ask about Chika’s relationship with Kaito, but… I’m feeling a bit tired today, so I’ll pass on that.
Sigh, I’m really feeling hungry…
*************
TN: XD
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