HS Chapter 67: The hopeless sister restrains her little sis.

Koma participates in the track and field tournament as a track and field club aide. The tournament will be held in another prefecture, about five hours by bullet train from our home town… And to make matters worse, it turned out that the qualifiers and finals would be held on weekdays.

“Hey, Koma… You really have to go…? You’re going…?”
“Yes. I’ll go.”

I thought the tournament would be held nearby, and I was ready to go and cheer for the club, but it wasn’t like I expected. Temporarily, I thought I’d allow Koma as an aide, but if that’s what you’re talking about, then that’s different.

That’s why I, Tachibana Mako, am still trying to convince Koma to stop participating in the tournament on the morning of her departure.

“But, Koma! We won’t see each other for 3, no 4 days…!? Are you saying you’ll still go…!? Can’t we just pretend this whole ‘helper’ thing never happened….!? I’m sure it’s not too late… If you like, I can talk to President-san myself in person…”

“Dear me… You can’t go around saying that, Nee-sama. I’m already registered to play. If I don’t play here, then why did I help them, why did I practice till yesterday.”

“Guu… That is… That’s true, but…”
“Also… Saying ‘I can’t go’ at the last moment… Wouldn’t you feel sorry for President-sama who relied on me, and to the people who entrusted me with this?”

I desperately try to advise Koma, but Koma will never waver and she comes back with a good argument. Muu… Her argument is so sound that I can’t talk back…

“Then, I’ll take a break from school! Then I’ll follow Koma as your cheerleader and personal manager! Or do you have a problem with that!?”
“That’s not good either. There’s a lot wrong with that. Nee-sama has class. If you do that, the teacher will be angry with you again.”
“Uuu…! But… But…!”

As if to gently scold me, Koma softly declines my offer and warned me. I don’t mind the teacher getting angry, since they’re always mad at me…

Gunununu…. Something… Isn’t there something….!? Is there anything else I can use… How about me sneaking to follow her…

“…. Good grief. Mako, you… You’re still at it. You’re really bad at giving up. And, Koma, you’d better get going, or you’ll be late for the rendezvous.”

“Ah, yes. I understand, Aunt-sama… With that being said. Nee-sama, I want to depart…”

“Aaah!? Wait, wait!? Please, Koma! Just a few more minutes!?”

I was desperately trying to find a way to avoid being separated from Koma when Aunty came out of the living room with a dry remark. No, no… At this rate, Koma is really going to leave…!?

… You may be wondering why I am so reluctant to let Koma leave me. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a self-confessed super-duper siscon so… I got so distraught with loneliness when I found out that I won’t be able to see my little sister for a little while that I’m holding Koma—- It doesn’t mean that so I hope you won’t misunderstand.

…. No, well…. I can’t believe I won’t see Koma for three or four days… I’ll admit that it’s too painful to eat, too painful to drink…

But it’s not that I’m keeping the Koma around because I’m lonely. That’s not it… There’s one very important reason why I’m so desperate to stop Koma…

“Do you understand, Koma!? If you’re going to be away from me for three or four day… It means you won’t have your sense of taste that entire time!? You won’t taste your meals, you know!?”

That’s right… This is the biggest problem.

As you know, she has a peculiar disorder of taste and a peculiar constitution that allows her to regain her sense of taste when she kisses me. For the past six years, we’ve been kissing each other before every meal to restore Koma’s lost taste buds… That’s why… When Koma and I are separated, it means that Koma will be completely unable to sense taste for that period of time.

Although it has been improving recently, the maximum duration of taste in Koma is only 3 hours. In other words… Even if she were to kiss me now, she would lose her sense of taste by the time Koma arrives at the hotel where she will be staying.

“I understand it well, Nee-sama… But, I know I shouldn’t say this, as I’ve been taking advantage of your kindness all this time, but it’s just a matter of putting up with the tasteless food for a few days.”
“Just putting up with it…”

Not being able to sense taste… Koma should understand perfectly well how hard it is.

And yet, Koma is stubborn about it.

“… Well, I can’t say I don’t understand why you don’t want her to go. She’s the one who says she’ll go, so let her go, Mako. No matter how hard it is, if she’s made up her mind to do something, she’ll do it.”

“Th… That’s… That’s definitely true… But!? What if this makes Koma’s taste disorder even worse than it already is!?”
“”….””

I appeal to Koma and Aunty with tears as I scream. That’s right. What I fear more than anything from parting with Koma is…. The question of whether or not it will aggravate Koma’s taste disorder.

This is the first time I’ll see a Koma lose her sense of taste for that long, three or four days. It’s the first time, so… Neither I nor Koma know what effect that will have on her. Maybe the lack of contact with me for a while will cause her taste disorder to heal easily. Then all is well, and it worked better than expected.

But… What if it’s the opposite?

“What if she doesn’t know how to get them back after she lost her sense of taste for three whole days… What if that makes it harder for Koma’s taste buds to return?”

… No, it’s better if it’s harder to come back. If that becomes true…

“If… If it gets any worse than it already is, me and Koma will kiss each other… What are we going to do if they don’t come back after that? … I don’t want that!? I’d rather do this than have my Koma suffer even more than she already does… If that’s the case, I’ll stop Koma here no matter what! I don’t want to make the same mistake I made back then!”

“Nee-sama…”

“Mako, you…”

…. That’s what I fear the most. The result of letting Koma go from here… The thought of having to go through another regretful situation like I did six years ago…

“… Please don’t cry, Nee-sama.”
“Fueh…!?”

I was clinging to Koma and she gently wiped the tears in my eyes with a handkerchief, then put down her luggage and Koma hugged me tightly.

“Nee-sama’s feelings for me… I felt your pain. Thank you very much, Nee-sama… Really… I’m extremely happy.”
“Ko-Koma…! I’m glad that you understood! Then—”

“But… I’m sorry. Even so, I’ll go. Please let me go, Nee-sama.”
“…Eeeh!?”

I thought she understood me, but unexpectedly, she pulled herself away from me. You’re sorry…

“… In a way, this is a good opportunity.”
“Good… opportunity? What is…?”
“For me, Nee-sama…. I think I’ve been too spoiled by Nee-sama all this time.”

“…… Huh?”

I’m confused by Koma’s words. No, pardon me, Koma-sanya?… When and where were you ever spoiled by me!? I don’t remember spoiling Koma at all!? I don’t remember any of it! I’m always so eager for you to be spoiled more freely, but…!?

“That’s right… Originally, it would have been more than enough that Nee-sama saved my life that day six years ago… Not being able to taste anything, it’s not like it’s life threatening. All I had to do was be a little patient… All my life, I’ve been taking advantage of your kindness, being dependent on you, and letting me kiss you every chance I get… I’ve been really spoiled. I know I’m pathetic.”
“N-No, Koma… It’s not Koma who’s depending… That is…”

I’m sorry, but I’m the one who’s using it as an excuse that Koma’s taste disorder will be cured, even if it’s temporarily, and I’m the one who’s dependent, and I enjoy kissing my little sis…

“That’s why… I thought, I’m not good like this. No, actually, I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I can’t keep taking advantage of Nee-sama like this… I’ll never get over this taste disorder. I can’t move forward. That’s why I’m going to separate myself from Nee-sama… I thought it was a test and an opportunity given by God.”

“That’s why… It’s a good opportunity?”
“Yes, that’s right.”

So that’s it… Koma, so you were thinking that… In your own way, you were trying hard to cure your own taste disorder…

Uuu… I’m suddenly feeling guilty… All I can think about is, ‘I love kissing Koma. …… Thank you for treating me to your lips every time’ and nothing else…

“As Nee-sama says… There’s a good chance that not being able to kiss Nee-sama for a while will aggravate my taste disorder. However… Let’s suppose if it did, then I still wouldn’t mind. I’m prepared for it. If I continue to be spoiled by Nee-sama like now… The situation won’t get any better. That’s why I think I have to take the risk of worsening the situation and change it myself.”

“Hmn, it may be so. We’ve tried so many things to cure Koma’s taste disorder, and there’s still no sign of it being cured. I suppose, it wouldn’t hurt to try to change things up.”

Aunty, who was standing next to me listening to the conversation, agrees with Koma. That is… Honestly speaking, it’s something I’ve been feeling for a while too. My medical diet, Chiyuri-sensei’s therapy, and the psychotherapy she recently started— All of them effective but… Even so, I still felt like there was something crucial missing.

“If this… Separating myself  from Nee-sama, and then if I can do well in the competition without relying on you and without being spoiled by you… I’m sure I’ll gain more confidence in myself. If I could get results on my own… Something will change in me. I have a feeling about it.”
“Confidence…”

I see, confidence, it’s confidence. That may have been a blind spot. It has been said many times that the primary cause of Koma’s taste disorder is psychological, and by competing in the tournament and gaining confidence, Koma’s mental state will stabilize… Her taste disorder could be cured as a result of it…? 

“Please wait, Nee-sama. This track and field tournament… I will definitely deliver victory to Nee-sama. I’ll prove that I can do my best on my own, without taking advantage of Nee-sama. That’s why, Nee-sama. Please trust me. I’ll be fine. I’ll win.”
“Koma…”

After hugging me again, Koma says this to me with a sincere expression while looking at me… The determined eyes that stared at me were straight, strong, and very clear…

Please stop, Koma… If you look at me like that… I won’t be able to say ‘Don’t go please’ anymore…

“… I got it. If you insist so much… I can’t say no to that. No matter how hard I try to stop you… Koma will still go…”
“… Yes, Nee-sama is right. I’m sorry that I’m a selfish little sister, Nee-sama.”

“Uun… Koma can do whatever you want, however you want. And I’m the one who’s selfish… But, Koma! Let me say this much! If you get lonely or have a hard time, don’t hesitate to call or text me anytime! And then… If anything happens, Onee-chan will rush to Koma right away!”

“Yes! Thank you very much, Nee-sama!”

All that I can do now is just to see Koma off and cheer her on. Pushing the feeling of wanting to keep her here back into my heart, I send Koma away in tears.

“Koma. If you don’t get going soon you’ll be in trouble. Just get going.”
“Ah… that’s right. Then, I’m sorry but… I’ll be going now, Nee-sama.”

“…. Have a safe trip, Koma… Don’t overwork yourself! You can really call me anytime! If it’s too painful for you, you can come right back!”

“Well, don’t work so hard that you’ll hurt yourself.”

“I’ll do my best! Then, I’m off, Nee-sama and Aunt-sama!”

Koma waved to me and my aunt, and departed cheerfully and vigorously.

… Now I won’t be able to talk to, touch, look at, or smell Koma for a while… 

“… Fumu. Koma left pretty easily.”

“….”

“Although she won’t be seeing Mako for a while, she was more lively than I expected, which is the best. Being honest, I couldn’t imagine that she would voluntarily leave Mako… I guess that means she resolved herself?”

“……..”
“I was a little worried, but… Koma seems to be good. She was calm, and I’m sure he will do well in the tournament if she performs as well as she usually does so the resul—-”
“*Buwaa*…!”
“… Uoo!? M-Maako!? What’s wrong!? Are you crying!?”

As soon as the front door slammed shut, large tears began to well up in my eyes. uAaaa… Koma has gone afar… It hurts…

“Because, because! Koma… Koma at my side… Koma is not close enough for me to see her…  It hurts… I miss her… It’s heavy… I’ll die without Koma…”
“… The younger sister’s okay, but the older one’s not. Mako, get a grip on yourself, the wound is deep.”

I was crying and Aunty was comforting (?) me with a wry smile.

“… In fact, as Koma said, I think this is a good opportunity for you too. You and Koma were together all this time… For better or worse, you were too close to each other.”

“… Un.”

“I think it’s necessary for her to distance herself from you for a while, both for your independence and growth.”

“That… I get it. I get what you’re saying, but… but… but…!”

But even though I know that, I still don’t like it… I can’t be satisfied…

“Good grief… You’re just too gloomy. If you know what I’m talking about, then it’s your duty as an older sister to support Koma before everything else you don’t want to happen, Mako.”

“Uguu… Duty as the older sister…?”

“To be honest, Koma has a harder time than you. Under the pressure of being a helper, she loses her sense of taste for three days, and her sister, who she had always relied on, is not around… Even so, you have to consider the feelings of Koma, who decided to participate in the tournament for herself and for you.”
“… uuu”

Aunty scolds me a little strictly… Mu… That… It’s as Aunty says. Koma decided to go at it alone. She looked so serious, so determined. Then… I guess I’ll just have to endure it for a bit…

…. And yet, Aunty, who is usually so unserious, is telling me the truth…. Somehow, it angers me.

“Look, let’s cheer up and go to school first. It’s time for you to go, too.”

“School…?”
“That’s right, school. I’m sure you have a lot of work to do in your classes and club activities? Three or four days will pass in the blink of an eye when you’re doing it like crazy. That’s why, go, just go.”

Aah… That’s right. Now that I remember, it’s a weekday… It’s a weekday, I have classes, and because of that, I can’t go to support Koma…

School… is it? A school without Koma…

“…… Aunty. I think”

“Ah? What is it, Mako?”
“A school without Koma… I wonder if there is any point in going.”
“You…”

Aunty lets out a sigh with a look of deep dismay on her face. Because even if I go to school in this condition… I feel like I’m going to end up spending the whole day in class without really getting anything out of it, and I feel like there’s no point in going…

“You said you’d do your best to Koma, right? Then you’d better do your best… Just so you know, I won’t allow it as your guardian if you skip school without a good reason.”

“… Despite Aunty being the one who always plays hooky…”

“Ah, I’m a fine… adult.”

… What’s with that. Adults are so unfair.

“uaaaAaaa… I don’t like it… I don’t want to go to school unless Koma is with me… I can’t get motivated without the support of Koma…”

“Don’t roll around in front of the doorway, Mako. Jeez… You’re not a kid.”

“I’m a junior high school student so I’m still a kid… what… it’s lonely… Aunty could be a little nicer to me who’s cute, and heartbroken… Aah, that’s right…”

“Ah? What is it this time?”

 　I was rolling around on the front porch, refusing to go to school, when I suddenly saw Aunty’s face and had an idea. That’s right… Maybe that will motivate me…?

“Aunty, do that. You can, right?”
“That? What is that?”
“Look, you did it sometime ago. Imitating Koma’s voice. You can imitate Koma’s like you did back then and cheer me up.”

“Haaa?”

I remember the other day when I was cleaning Koma’s room, Aunty made fun of me by imitating her voice. Even though I’m familiar with Koma’s voice, I mistook hers for Koma’s, and there’s no other way to do this other than making some sacrifices. Let’s get Aunty to help me get motivated to go to school. 

“I don’t want to do it. Why do I have to do that…”

“If you support me by imitating Koma’s voice… I’ll do my best to go to school… Please, do it! Please…! If you don’t do it, I’m not going to cook dinner for Aunty until Koma comes home!”

“Eeeh…”

I cling to Aunty’s feet and beg her who looks like it’s a pain in the ass. I don’t think I’ll be able to take a single step without Koma’s support… Please help me, Aunty…

“Jeez… I got it. I’ll do it just once. Once I’ve done it, you’ll properly go to school, okay.”
“Un! Thank you! I’ll do it immediately!”

The threat of ‘I won’t make dinner’ seemed to have an effect on her, and she reluctantly agreed. I did it…! I want to say that.

“Aaah… I’ll go at it, Mako.”
“Umu! By all means, Aunty!”

She cleared her throat once and says to me.

“*Cough*… ‘Nee-sama, do your best♡’”

“……..”

Aunty imitates the voice of Koma almost perfectly. Oooh… Amazing, I got surprised by it. Seriously, it sounds like Koma. You sound just like Koma.

….. But. Yeah, well, the voice is the only thing that is similar to her…

“… Haa”

“… Oi, Mako. What’s with the disappointed sigh that says, ‘It was a disappointment’?”

“… The voice is similar, but it lacks the cuteness and youthfulness unique to Koma. Aunty, re-do it.”

“Youth…!? How dare you say that to me when you made me do something I don’t want to do!? Eeei, just get going to school, you freaking niece of mine…!”

“Kyan!?”

I was kicked out of the house after getting my butt kicked for saying my honest thoughts. I told you to be nicer to me…