Chapter 135

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**Nozomi-san. (6)**

“Yeoreum, try this.”

“Ichinose-san, have a bite of this too.”

“Uuh… okay…”

Since it was lunchtime, we came to a nearby yakiniku place—

But isn’t this… a little too much attention on _me_?

Every time I ate a piece of meat from one of them, the other would immediately offer me another piece, like they were in a competition.

It _was_ nice not having to lift a finger, but still…

“You two should eat too. I mean… Nagakawa-sans?”

“…”

“…”

And just like that, silence.

What? Don’t look at me like that! I’m just calling you what _you two_ agreed to!

Honestly, it kind of annoyed me that they were still being passive-aggressive even during a delicious meal.

The whole point of this was to eat tasty food and hopefully bond a little…

Ah—meat’s ready.

I picked up a nicely grilled slice and popped it in my mouth, only to see both of them _gulp_ in sync.

‘Just eat already…’

It was like they were playing chicken—whoever eats first loses or something. Neither had touched a single bite.

Is this part of their sibling war too?

It was starting to feel a bit unfair that I was the only one eating.

Actually… is this some kind of joint plan to mess with me?

“Here, Toya. Aah~”

“Hehe, aah~”

“Tch…”

I picked up a piece and fed it to Toya.

Right before feeding her, she shot Nozomi-san a mischievous grin like a naughty kid.

Toya really turned into a different person when Nozomi was around—more childish, somehow.

Well, Nozomi was no different in that regard.

“Okay, Nozomi-san, your turn.”

“Aah…”

“Ghh…!”

After feeding Toya, I turned to Nozomi next.

She hesitated, but then shyly accepted the bite like a baby bird, and I couldn’t help but feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Is this… maternal instinct?

I wasn’t old enough or in any position to feel something like that, but looking at Nozomi made it hard not to.

Maybe it was just because she’s Toya’s little sister.

“So, have you two thought about talking to each other? Even a little?”

“…”

“…”

Yeah… it seemed the emotional distance between them ran deeper than I thought.

I didn’t know the full story, so I couldn’t say much. But I did believe they _could_ get along—if they tried.

Most misunderstandings could be fixed with a good talk. And being real siblings, that should be even more possible.

…Assuming they could even start the conversation.

“Come on, it’s been so long. Can’t you at least talk a little? Honestly, if I keep eating like this, I’m going to get sick.”

Being the only one eating while the two of them silently fought made even delicious meat taste bland.

I wasn’t asking for big laughs or deep bonding over food, but this vibe was getting exhausting.

“Alright then, let’s start with… Nagakawa-san.”

“…”

“…”

“See? This is why that doesn’t work. I’ll just call you Toya and Nozomi. Or just Nozomi.”

Sometimes you had to be firm.

Sure, I might come off as rude, but if it helped mend their relationship, I could take that hit.

Well… the ones hearing it might not appreciate it, but—ugh, whatever. I’ll just consider myself someone with a few screws loose today.

If someone had told me _I_ had a bad relationship with Koyuki, like Toya and Nozomi, I’d be heartbroken.

There’s no such thing as “Han Yeoreum doesn’t get along with Koyuki.” That just doesn’t exist.

So if Toya and Nozomi couldn’t become close, I at least wanted them to become… _not hostile_.

‘Besides, Nozomi is my manager now…’

Sure, it happened suddenly, but sudden or not, work is work.

She’d be seeing Toya regularly from now on. If this kept up every time, it’d be a problem.

Not that I didn’t _also_ dream of seeing the two of them acting like loving sisters someday…

“Nozomi…”

“Ah, if that was rude—”

“Rude?! Not at all! Please call me Nozomi!”

“Then you call me Natsu. You’re Toya’s sister, so that makes you super close to me too.”

I was ready to switch back to calling her “Nozomi-san” if she took offense, but she seemed delighted. Like she _wanted_ to be addressed by name.

Toya, meanwhile, gave Nozomi a look of utter pity, and briefly frowned when I told Nozomi to call me Natsu. But once she realized I hadn’t said _Yeoreum_, her expression eased.

“Okay then, let’s have the older sister go first. Any regrets, or good memories, or whatever.”

Fighting means there’s still something to fight _about_, which is better than not caring at all.

If they had just completely ignored each other like they didn’t exist, it would’ve been hopeless.

But that wasn’t the case.

Maybe I was being overly optimistic, but I really did think they could talk things out.

“Alright, since Yeoreum asked… I’ll go first.”

“…”

“You told me music was pointless, but then you go and pick it up as a _hobby_?”

“……”

Wow, that was a pretty hard opener.

Still, Nozomi’s reaction wasn’t terrible. Maybe this could go somewhere.

“…That’s because…”

Nozomi’s expression dimmed at Toya’s sharp jab.

I didn’t think Toya had meant to shame her, but that’s how it came out.

I wanted to offer comfort, but I held back for now.

She was clearly trying to respond.

Yes, there it was—_something_ was surfacing.

Just as Toya looked ready to interrupt again, I grabbed her hand.

‘Just listen for now, Toya.’

‘But—’

‘She’s your sister.’

Maybe I was overstepping.

Maybe I was butting into something I shouldn’t.

But I felt like if no one interfered, they’d never have the chance to reconnect.

If Nozomi hadn’t joined V-Spe, and if she hadn’t been in the recording room that day cleaning…

This meeting never would’ve happened.

When coincidences pile up, they become fate. I believed this was one of those times.

Whether the ending would be happy or sad, this meddling came from a wish: that their story might still end in happiness.

“I just… wanted to know what was so great about it. The music you thought was worth leaving home over. I wanted to see for myself, so I tried it.”

“…And? How was it?”

There was a mix of hope and fear in Toya’s voice.

She was probably worried that she’d been the reason Nozomi clashed with their parents.

And if Nozomi started music, it’d be inevitable that she’d face the same resistance.

Because Toya is kind.

Even when her words are sharp, it’s not to wound—it’s to keep others at a distance.

Like she’s saying: _Don’t get too close. Don’t try to understand me._

‘Maybe that’s why Nozomi is finally trying to speak.’

She hesitated, but her sincerity was obvious.

Why she followed in her sister’s footsteps, what she found in music…

Things I never could’ve understood on my own.

I stayed quiet, just listening.

And from the way she spoke, I could finally understand.

Nozomi didn’t _hate_ Toya.

She just missed her.

She had tried to learn more about her sister by doing what she did—but Toya was already gone.

And standing in front of a finish line she couldn’t reach, Nozomi had learned something.

> “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“…”

Nozomi didn’t answer Toya’s question directly.

Her reply wasn’t about being a sister—it was about curiosity. Longing. A personal quest.

A silent regret about the bond they’d had—but never used.

> “I did tell you.”

She’d said she wanted to sing.

That she couldn’t stand the desire anymore.

But Nozomi had ignored her—just as she’d feared.

Because being disappointed and being hurt were different.

They didn’t _hate_ each other.

They just… regretted not understanding each other.

That’s what being sisters means. That’s what being family _is_.