Ch.365IF Side Story: Seems I’ve Arrived a Bit Early (62)

I remembered what I was like.

Looking at Shii these past few days made me think.

When I was young, how much did I guard myself against Kagami?

It wasn’t severe, but I think I still went through quite a long adjustment period. Now I’m completely used to Kagami—well, to the point where I can’t even sleep properly without her beside me, but back then, memories of my past life were still much clearer.

If even I, who was born as Kagami’s daughter in this world, felt that way, what about Shii who had lived in a different home?

For the first few days, Shii seemed to think we might suddenly change and abuse her at any moment.

Or perhaps she thought our current appearance was just an illusion.

But after a few days, thanks to Souta visiting almost daily after school, Shii’s feelings seemed to soften considerably.

Maybe it was because her father and mother weren’t around. In front of Souta, Shii gradually began to smile. Souta would make jokes typical of an elementary school student—honestly a bit unfunny to my ears—but Shii would burst into laughter each time as if they were hilarious.

……I struggled to laugh along beside them.

As this continued, naturally, Souta started walking home with me.

Of course, for part of the way, Souta was with his friends and I was with mine, but after we parted from our respective friends, Souta would stop by our house to see Shii. For about an hour or two.

No matter how strong a big brother he was, Souta was still an elementary school student. He couldn’t completely go against his father’s words. Since his father was an old-fashioned person who valued authority, they absolutely had to have dinner together.

……Old-fashioned, huh.

Looking at their ages, our dad seems older. I wonder what kind of childhood someone has to have to become that kind of adult.

“Souta.”

About two weeks had passed like this.

On a day when winter’s beginning was strongly felt in the air, I suggested to Souta:

“Should we take Shii out for a bit?”

“Huh?”

Since I brought this up suddenly while we were on our way home, Souta seemed a bit taken aback.

Shii had been staying at our house for the past two weeks.

From my observations during that time, I learned one thing: Shii liked being alone more than I expected.

Well, not unconditionally. If I had to be specific, Shii enjoyed being with her brother the most. But when that wasn’t possible, she preferred being alone to being with adults. The only person whose presence she didn’t mind “at all” so far was me.

I think I know why. I wasn’t an adult. At least not in appearance.

Kagami always spoke to Shii in a gentle voice, and even went into the bath with her to help. She bought her clean clothes and various snacks.

As for school… we’re looking into it. We couldn’t know how Shii had attended school before. At the very least, she hadn’t been going to school in this neighborhood.

That wasn’t something I could help with, so I just left it to Kagami and Dad.

Anyway, although her wariness toward adults was gradually decreasing, Shii still only showed no hostility toward me and Souta.

“I just thought it might be nice to show Shii around the neighborhood.”

I had no intention of forcing a child who was comfortable at home to go out.

But somehow, I felt Souta would be able to go around very well with Shii.

“Oh, is that okay?”

See?

Even Souta, who usually keeps his distance and seems awkward when walking with just me, brightens up at the mention of Shii.

How much does he love his sister—

“……”

“Kotone?”

“Ah, sorry.”

Somehow, thinking about the two of them together made me feel like something was about to surface in my mind.

This was partly why I wanted to take them out. Whenever I saw Shii and Souta together, I felt a strange tingling deep inside my head. Not literally itchy, but a feeling like memories were almost surfacing, flickering just out of reach.

If my birth in this world wasn’t simply living a “next life”…

That memory would surely be a big hint about this world.

“Shii has been inside our house for two weeks.”

To be more precise, she spent most of her time in my room. Though it seems she occasionally came down to the living room after I left for school, and she was properly using the bathroom and shower.

Living on eggshells isn’t pleasant. Shii was already a child who had to walk on eggshells around her mother. A change in environment doesn’t immediately change a person.

Still, she wasn’t having any problems with food. Shii liked meat, sweet foods, and even things like ice cream. She ate like she might never get to eat again.

“I thought she might enjoy eating out somewhere.”

“…Hmm.”

At my words, Souta fell into thought.

I knew Souta had to have dinner with his father.

But that didn’t mean he couldn’t play outside at all.

When I said “eating out,” I just thought it would be nice to sit with Souta and have ice cream or something.

“Are you okay with it?”

“I’m fine.”

I had naturally inserted myself into the plan, but Souta didn’t seem to find it strange.

It would be nice if they could spend time alone together, but somehow I couldn’t feel at ease. While Souta was mature for an elementary school student, he still looked too young to my eyes.

Actually, I had already mentioned this to Kagami before leaving for school in the morning.

Since Kagami tends to worry a lot about me, I had a feeling she might follow us at a distance… well, that was up to her.

Besides, Dad was there too.

*

I never knew Shii was such a talkative child.

At our house, where adults were present, Shii wasn’t very talkative.

It was the same even in front of me, whom she didn’t guard against. To begin with, there wasn’t much for us to talk about, and I wasn’t the type to actively engage her in conversation.

In the distance, I could see Kagami and Dad sitting far from where we were. Fortunately, Shii hadn’t noticed them.

“So, yesterday, I ate chocolate, yes.”

“Did you?”

Shii was talking enthusiastically.

Formal speech.

Shii was using somewhat awkward formal speech with Souta. I wasn’t sure why. Perhaps she was influenced by TV.

Souta seemed to find it strange at first, but he didn’t point it out.

Shii’s conversation was mostly about what she did during the day.

What she ate, how much she slept. How soft the bed was.

Speaking of beds, Shii sleeps alone. That seemed more comfortable for her. A quiet and peaceful night where no one disturbs her.

As for me, I sleep with Kagami anyway. To be honest, I’m glad to have an excuse.

The fact that our family is a bit unusual doesn’t seem to matter much to Shii. ……If we’re talking about unusual, Shii’s home was, well, more so.

“I see.”

Souta nodded and responded in a mature manner.

After Souta responded kindly several times, Shii closed her mouth briefly, pondered, and then spoke.

“Orabeoni.”

“……Orabeoni?”

Both Souta and I froze. With a piece of pancake skewered on his fork, Souta stared blankly for a moment before looking at me.

I shook my head.

Orabeoni? Orabeoni? I tilted my head several times in confusion, then suddenly remembered that Shii really loved manga.

Perhaps because of her upbringing. Shii… how should I put it.

She liked manga with everyday content. Not the violent ones.

Ah, I see.

If we’re talking about manga, and if she learned certain speech patterns from there, it’s not strange, I think. Imitating content from manga they admire is common behavior for children at this age.

Even Harumi used to imitate magical girl transformations several times—

“Pfft.”

Thinking about it that way, I couldn’t help but laugh a little.

Shii and Souta looked at me.

I quickly composed my expression and continued eating my pancake.

Orabeoni, huh. Well, having one person who uses such a unique term of address isn’t so bad.

After all, thinking about it, all the kids around me were quite unique in their own way.

Orabeoni—

……

Orabeoni?

I paused for a moment.

Shii was eagerly talking to her brother again. Just like a young child telling their parents, she was recounting everything she had experienced today, one by one.

Souta.

Souta Sasaki.

Shii.

Shii Sasaki.

A relationship where the younger sister greatly depends on her brother. Parents divorced, and the sister had been abused.

And on top of that, a “Shii” who uses the term “Orabeoni.”

“……”

I blinked.

The tip of the fork I was holding trembled slightly, but I managed to maintain my usual expressionless face.

I remembered. Finally.

The source of the discomfort I’d been feeling whenever the two of them were together.

It seems I had been inside a novel all this time.