Stealing Spree

When they finished humming and singing Yue’s popular song, both sisters opened their closed eyes as they looked at each other with excitement in their eyes. If this was an anime, there would probably be a dramatic background behind them like flowers or rainbows and stars.

“Nee-sama, you also know Asahi’s song?” Itou asked her sister with renewed excitement.

“Un. It’s the song that lets me remember our childhood. When you’re always sticking with me. Ya-chan was so adorable back then… However, the third verse of the song is making me remember the day we were separated by Father…” Himeko smiled and nodded at her. However, when she reached the last sentence, her cheerfulness died down and she turned gloomy.

That part of the song was letting her remember that painful day for them.

What I thought about the song was true. It’s enough to invoke a sense of melancholy to anyone who could hear it. Even if the lyrics were about Yue’s experience, the way the melody and how she fitted that story into the lyrics was perfect.

The third verse of the song. It’s that part where it will invoke more sad memories than happy ones which were shown in the first and second verses. And that’s because it was the part of Yue’s story where I turned her down and cut her off.

Ah. Not really turned down but I brushed her confession off as if it’s something unimportant, almost the same as how I turned down Miho or Yae back then.

“However, I really like the bridge. It’s giving me more motivation to change, to be able to continue walking down this road with you, with Ruki, with Haru and with the others who I got to know through everyone. That’s why I made that list. I was hoping that once I finished all that, the Himeko who became a cowardly turtle would peek out her head and begin moving again to finish this race in life, regardless of whether I will be the winner or not.” Himeko continued, casting off the gloom as she showed us a bright smile that was filled with her determination.

That’s right. Compared to the sad third verse, the bridge of the song was all about acceptance. Accepting that the past had already passed. There’s no more turning back and one should face forward and continue walking down the new path they opened up for their life.

That part was invoking courage for its listeners. Just like with Himeko and most likely with Yue. She posted that video as a way for her to take a step forward.

When I heard that song earlier, it was truly emotional that it also managed to tug at my heartstrings. Because it wasn’t numb anymore, I clearly felt the feelings that she poured into that song.

And upon understanding the meaning of her song, it made me relieved that she’s doing well or better for that matter. She had already moved on while my desire was still here… With no apt solution to thoroughly cleanse it out of my system.

This day could be said as somewhat mystical. The coincidence of this day to be the day of her 1st concert. Seeing her fans gathering at the train station when I picked up Yae. Hearing her name, seeing her photo and finding it too familiar. Meeting her enthusiastic fans allowed me to remember her.

I decided not to meddle with this new life she opened up for herself. However, it was her song that kept on reminding me of her…

Nonetheless, with her success today, she had probably forgotten me already. And that’s for the best.

In any case, I should really stop thinking of her at the moment. I’m with Himeko and this is her day. Although I had that bet about singing that song for Himeko, I couldn’t find a chance to do it. Besides, I had only heard it once, it would be impossible to memorize it that fast.

Perhaps, I would attempt to do it later. But not now.

The two sisters continued their conversation about the song while I calmly listened to them as we waited for our food to be ready.

Naturally, Himeko asked me if I also heard of that song and I answered honestly that I only heard about it today but the melody was all familiar to me.

There’s no need for me to tell her that I had a connection with that popular singer because there’s still the possibility that I could be wrong.

There’s a possibility that Asahi is Yue’s twin sister, who knows? With her life before she became popular already covered up, meeting her would be the only way to confirm this assumption of mine.

After a while, the ingredients I put in the pot began boiling and I asked for their bowls to serve the food.

Himeko happily handed her bowl to me before specifically asking that she wanted more chicken than the vegetables.

When I teased her using that new trait of hers that I discovered, the girl blushed once before acting annoyed once again. With what we did earlier of letting her order for us pile up with this teasing comment, it took me a bit of effort for her to look at me again.

During that instance, Itou was sticking her tongue out to me as if she was reveling at my plight. And when Himeko would look at her, she would put on her most kind expression as if she’s an angel who wouldn’t be able to do and things lest she would become a fallen angel.

Since I was always petty even for a slight offense like that, when I asked for her bowl to serve her, I only put vegetables and they were vegetables that she specifically mentioned not to pick.

Upon seeing that, the girl immediately turned to her sister to complain about what I did.

And since I was clearly the one at fault, I was scolded by Himeko which made that mischievous ojou-sama giggle at her seat while watching us.

In this way, eating our lunch ended well. By willingly letting Itou make fun of my blunder, although I tried getting back at her, there’s no more problem that sprang up. She’s slowly getting used to my and Himeko’s flirtatious gestures whenever our eyes meet.

After a while, I looked around the restaurant to make sure that no one would bother them before excusing myself to go to the bathroom.

Sitting for almost an hour inside the train and drinking all that soup from the hotpot, my bladder was already about to burst.

For our next destination, I thought of bringing her to a theater but the problem was that we needed to take a bus to get to our destination. An unpopular old theater house with few customers even during weekends.

That’s a perfect place for Himeko. Fewer people and we could enjoy an old movie together. I just didn’t know her preference though. I just had to hope that she would like whatever was currently showing there.

“Onoda, can we talk?”

When I left the bathroom, the question came from the girl who was waiting for me with her arms crossed while leaning her back on the wall.

Since we’re inside the restaurant, her hood was pulled down along with her cap, revealing her beautiful face that was clearly not that much different from Himeko.

I already planned to talk to her alone but I didn’t expect her to take the initiative herself… What’s more, here in this restaurant when my date with Himeko was just starting…