Episode 5

Episode 5

May 4th

It was a little before 8am. Even though it was still early in the morning, my sister had already taken me outside.

Just yesterday I swore I'd never step outside again, but in just one night that vow was broken.

I was woken up at 7am and before I even knew what was happening, I was dressed - my pajamas were easily taken off and a dress was pulled over my body despite my resistance - and I was taken out without even having a proper breakfast.

I tried to stay inside the house, but because I had just woken up when the ambush happened, I couldn't move my body as I wanted, and by the time I regained consciousness, I was already outside. My sister was holding my hand and walking slowly.

Even if I wanted to shake her hand off, there was no way my elementary school student body could compete with a high school student, so I had no choice but to talk with my sister.

"...So, where do we plan to go?"

"There's no need to be suspicious. Mizuki-chan knows the place too."

As we continued walking, wondering what my sister had said, it seemed like our destination was in sight.

"...I'm going back."

"No, no, you're not going back."

"Nooooo! I want to go home!"

Despite my age and appearance, well, I might look my age, but I was throwing a tantrum. The more I tantrumed, the stronger she pulled on my hand, which was counterproductive.

We arrived at the station, which meant we were obviously going somewhere far away. It would be one thing if we were in the neighborhood, but I couldn't bear to go out looking like this.

However, my hopes were in vain as another figure approached, as if to add insult to injury.

"Ah! Mizuki-chan! Good morning!"

When I arrived at the park, the person who came up to me was Sengoku Akane, who lives next door. She was a lively girl in fifth grade, the same age as me. With her hair in cute pigtails and wearing a T-shirt and shorts, she looked like she was ready to exercise. The smile she flashed as she approached me was dazzling.

"Good morning, Akane-chan."

"Oh! Good morning to you too, Sachi-oneechan!"

"...G-good morning."

When I timidly greeted her, Akane hugged me tightly as if it was an extension of the greeting. Before, I would have looked at her as if she was a child playing pranks, but now we're the same height... well, Akane is slightly taller. In any case, our faces are so close that I feel very embarrassed.

However, I didn't have any particular connection with this girl to begin with. The problem is...

"Akane, it's dangerous if you suddenly run off. Good morning, Sachi-chan, Mizuki-chan."

Yes, the handsome man with the bright smile is Sengoku Tatsuya. He was my former classmate. We were close when we were little, as our houses were next door to each other, but we went to different schools for high school and university, and as I became a recluse, we became somewhat estranged. Apparently, he had come to my house a few times, probably out of concern for me, but I had rejected him and sent him away.

"Good morning, Tatsuya-nii. Come on, Mizuki-chan, say hello properly too."

"Uh... Good morning..."

"Yes, good morning. Let's have fun together today. Thank you for inviting me, Sachi-chan. I was thinking about what to do during Golden Week, so this is perfect."

"No, no, you've been saying for a while that you wanted to take your sister somewhere. I'm grateful that you're here as our guardian."

I looked up at my sister's face. I don't know how she did it, but it seems this gathering itself had been decided some time ago... before I even became a girl. That's probably why I was changed.

As I gazed at my sister, I suddenly felt a gentle pat on my head. It was somehow ticklish and embarrassing.

I shook them off and hid behind my sister. The way all three of them looked at me somehow made me smile.

"Haha, I guess she hates me now."

"No, no, she's just embarrassed. Seriously."

While my sister and Tatsuya were having this conversation, I noticed a shadow creeping up behind me.

"I gotchu!"

"Wow!?"

Before I knew it, Akane had come up behind me and hugged me again. After playing around for a while, we were scolded by our respective siblings, and then we took our tickets and headed out onto the station platform.

While waiting for the train, I decided to call out to Tatsuya.

"Hey, Tatsuya. Do you know me...?"

"??? Maybe it's because manga influence? I think it's better to use cute language instead of 'I' and things like that."

"No, that's not it!"

"Oh, I guess you mean to answer your question. Well, I guess I'll tell Sachi about the way you speak later. But yeah, I live next door, so of course I know you. Thank you for always playing with my Akane. I'm glad you've been such good friends for so long."

Those words left me in despair. I was so sad that I grabbed the hem of my skirt and looked down.

In the end, just as my sister said, there is no one left in this world who knows me. Even Tatsuya, who I used to play with so much in elementary and middle school, is like this. I suppose my sister knows me, but she is not an ally; she is the one who turned me into this. You could even call her my enemy.

I was reminded once again that there was nothing I could do unless I had a strong will of my own.