5 Step Sisters Vol. 1 Chapter 6

Eldest Daughter / Chinatsu Miyanaga

May 2nd, Friday.

"Golden Week starts tomorrow, but don't go too wild. I want each of you to focus on your club activities, studies, or having fun."

It was a cloudy day from the morning. Homeroom at the end of the day was concluded with those words from Aru-sensei.

After school, some students headed to their club activities as usual, while many others were discussing their play plans for the break.

As usual, having no particular business, I wanted to head home quickly, but unluckily for me, I was assigned day duty today.

As I opened the class logbook with a sour look on my face, Chinatsu, who sat next to me, stood up and then squatted down on the floor. Wondering what she was doing, I saw her pick up a fallen eraser and lightly tap the shoulder of the girl seated in front of her.

"Did you drop this?"

"Eh? Ah, yeah..."

The girl turned around, gave a bashful smile, and accepted the eraser from Chinatsu.

Chinatsu slung her bag over her shoulder and walked out of the classroom. As I tried to shift my gaze back, this conversation jumped into my ears.

"Haa, I was so nervous."

"You endured well. She really has an intense presence, doesn't she? That Miyanaga-san."

The girl who had just had her eraser picked up by Chinatsu was chatting with her friend.

I pressed the cap of the mechanical pencil I was holding against my brow, which was about to wrinkle. Click, I knocked the pen top, then let out a small sigh.

"Rikuto, day duty? Well see ya~"

"Hey Hiruoka, you're on cleaning duty."

"C-crap, busted..."

After the classroom cleaning was finished, left all alone, I lazily wrote the continuation of the logbook. Through the window, the shouts of the baseball club and the leisurely melody played by the brass band club drifted in.

Come to think of it, I wonder if Chinatsu decided to join the Karate club in the end. Aru-sensei, who serves as the advisor, seems to have invited her repeatedly, hoping she would join, but it appears she hasn't given a favorable answer so far.

Perhaps dragged by those thoughts, I ended up writing "Karate" in the weather column of the logbook. I erased it with painstaking care, then focused on filling in the remaining margins.

It was 4:30 PM when I finished locking the classroom and left the school.

The sky was still bright, and swallows were gliding here and there, likely carrying food to their chicks. I tapped my commuter pass at the ticket gate of Shin-Shizuoka Station and boarded the first car as usual. Getting on the second car on the way there, and the first car on the way back; this has been something of a routine for me since last year.

Click-clack, click-clack. The Shizutetsu train ran through the city at a slow pace.

Just after passing Yunoki Station, Mt. Fuji came into view outside the train window. For me, living in Shizuoka, Mt. Fuji is a familiar presence. I think that is probably quite a happy thing.

In the morning, I feel like the receding Mt. Fuji is cheering me on, saying "Have a safe trip." On the way back, the approaching Mt. Fuji, visible down to its base, feels like it's saying "Welcome home." On a cloudy day like today, it's a little lonely, but on days when it looks beautiful and clear, my mood brightens just a bit.

Watching a contrail running across the distant sky, I got off the train. While being overtaken by working adults and young couples with children, I stopped by the Shizutetsu Store out of daily habit and wandered around, but I didn't feel like buying anything. Today is Friday, and Golden Week starts tomorrow. The next time I treat the five sisters to home cooking will likely be a little ways off.

Yawning as I returned home, I reached for the front door, when suddenly, the door burst open with great force from the other side.

"...Ghgh!!"

Thwack! A lump of metal slammed directly into my forehead, and a massive amount of stars spun in the depths of my eyes. Unable to speak due to the sheer pain, I held my forehead and writhed in agony for a while.

When I looked back with teary eyes, what I saw speeding away was Chinatsu's back.

"I-Is she an insurance scammer or something..."

Could it be she committed this outrage knowing I'm weak to surprise attacks other than bare-handed fighting?

Rubbing my throbbing forehead, I placed my hand on the door that had just closed in front of me. Standing in the entryway was Mio in her uniform.

"Huh? Mio?"

It didn't feel like she was there to welcome me home. That was because Mio, clasping her hands in front of her chest, had a face that was ghastly pale.

"O-Onii-san."

Mio called out in a trembling voice. I immediately adjusted my expression and asked, trying to keep my tone as calm as possible.

"What's wrong?"

"Chinatsu nee-san said Sorane-chan wasn't at the meeting place. When we asked the elementary school, they said she had already gone home long ago. When we tried to contact them, we couldn't get through to not just Sorane-chan, but Fuka-chan either... So Chinatsu nee-san just went to look for them."

"Sorane and Fuka?"

I checked the time on my smartphone. 5:30 PM. It is indeed on the late side.

I heard Fuka is still undecided on which club to join, and Sorane, who just joined the soccer school, only has practice once a week on Tuesdays.

I thought about what I should do. It's enough for one person to remain at the house. In that case, it would be better to leave Mio here and for me to help search for the two of them as well.

Judging so, I tried to leave the house. I stopped in my tracks right before stepping out because I remembered Chinatsu's unusual state.

I had seen it earlier. Chinatsu's face, distorted enough to look like she was about to cry, as she passed right by me.

Even if I offered my help, would a Chinatsu with a face like that say, "Please do"? If I thought about it for a moment, the answer came immediately.

...She won't. There's no way she would. If I chase after her without a plan, I'll just be pushed away.

The burden Chinatsu Miyanaga is carrying.

Unless I understand even a fragment of it, I cannot get even a single step closer to her.

"Hey, Mio. By any chance, has something similar happened before?"

When I broached the subject, Mio made a startled expression.

"Wh-who did you hear that from?"

From that reaction, I knew I had hit the mark. Mio also knows about the incident Natsuki-san started to mention two days ago.

"That's not it. But, please. Could you tell me?"

Looking at her straight in the eye, she must have understood that I wasn't asking out of mere curiosity.

Mio began to speak with a dark expression.

"...Several years ago, Fuka-chan was almost kidnapped."

Before me, as I swallowed my breath, Mio spoke haltingly.

—At that time, Chinatsu was nine years old. Mio and Karin were eight, and Fuka was six. Sorane hadn't been born yet. The four sisters attended the same elementary school and often walked to and from school together.

On that day too, the four of them met up and were walking their usual route home.

It was Chinatsu who first noticed something was wrong.

Before they knew it, Fuka was gone. When they retraced their steps, they found Fuka entranced, watching a line of ants.

If it had just been that, it would have ended as a small funny story. However, the situation changed completely when a black car approached slowly from the opposite direction and stopped next to Fuka.

The rear door opened, and the arm of a man who quickly stepped out—picked up the squatting Fuka with total ease.

"At that moment, it looked like Chinatsu nee-san's body moved before she could think. In a frantic daze, she lunged at the man."

Chinatsu, who had dashed forward, bit into the arm of the man holding Fuka. She was shaken off with brute force and hit her head against the car body, but like a beast, she bit him again.

Mio was frozen with fear, but she desperately calmed Karin, who was clinging to her crying, and called for help.

Soon, neighbors who noticed the commotion pinned the men down, and the police rushed to the scene. The two men were arrested in the act for attempted kidnapping of a minor.

Chinatsu was immediately taken to the hospital, but she had suffered serious injuries: a blow to the head and a broken arm, taking five months to heal.

Fuka was also questioned, but because she was so young, she apparently hadn't properly processed the series of events that happened to her. In a sense, that was a blessing in disguise, but Chinatsu couldn't take it optimistically like that.

"Every time we visited her, Chinatsu nee-san... was blaming herself. Saying it was her fault. That because she took her eyes off her, she put her little sister in danger."

I felt like I knew that scene.

Correctly speaking, it is nothing more than imagination. Chinatsu blaming herself, repeating "It's my fault" in a sorrowful voice. Exposed to unreasonable violence, holding her tattered, wounded little body, continuing to curse her own helplessness.

"When she was discharged, Chinatsu nee-san told us: 'I will absolutely protect you all. I won't let you face danger ever again,' she said."

"......"

"Since then, Chinatsu nee-san changed. She was already reliable to begin with, but... she asked Mom and started attending judo and karate classes. She started trying to keep men as far away from us as possible. Saying she would do all the housework herself, she really became able to do everything alone like an adult..."

Perhaps recalling that time, Mio's eyes welled up with tears as if unable to bear it.

"But, back then, Chinatsu nee-san was still nine years old. Just a nine-year-old, normal girl...!"

Mio wiped her wet eyes and bowed her head.

"Onii-san, please. Please, save Chinatsu nee-san... and Fuka-chan and Sorane-chan..."

Beyond that, it seemed she could no longer form words.

I pulled Mio's head, which remained lowered, into an embrace so light it could hardly be called a hug. For just an instant, Mio's body jolted, but a few seconds later, she pressed her forehead strongly against my shoulder.

It might be irresponsible. Even so, wanting to encourage Mio who was shaking with anxiety and fear, I spun my words.

"Thank you for telling me something so painful. So, from here on, leave it to me."

"...Yes."

Mio nodded while sniffing.

She seemed to have calmed down a little, so I let go of her and said while looking into Mio's eyes.

"Mio, please stay here just like this. The two of them might come back, or there might be contact. If anything happens, send me a message."

"O-Okay. I understand."

Mio nodded with a serious face. She surely wants to go search for her sisters more than anything, but she suppressed her eager emotions, understanding that dividing roles is also important now.

"What about you, Onii-san...?"

"I'm going to where Chinatsu is."

Putting my luggage in the entryway, I thought for a moment, took out only my wallet, and then left the house.

She was already nowhere to be seen within the range visible from the street in front of the house. Knowing the agile and high-stamina Chinatsu, she must have moved on long ago.

After operating my smartphone, I guessed and headed toward the station area where there were many people.

"Um, excuse me. Have you seen this child and this child?"

As I thought, Chinatsu was there. Near JR Kusanagi Station, showing her smartphone and speaking to passersby. In front of the scenic station with stylish benches and flower beds set up here and there, the figure of a high school girl talking to people without caring how she looked stood out terribly.

Just as she was about to cross in front of the stone statue of the "Thinking Dog" at the rotary, I called out to stop her in a loud voice.

"Chinatsu!"

"!"

Chinatsu turned around vigorously. When she noticed me, a wavering light floated in her eyes, but she turned her back without saying anything.

"I said wait!"

I forcibly grabbed and stopped Chinatsu's shoulder as she tried to run off. Clicking her tongue quietly, Chinatsu stopped her feet even while brushing off my arm.

"What did you come here for?"

"What, you ask..."

"This is our problem. You aren't family, and there is no need for your help."

It was a string of sharp words, cutting me down right from the start. But I furrowed my brow, determined not to back down just because of that.

"That might be true, but even so—"

"Don't you get it? You're annoying! I'm telling you you're a nuisance!"

Chinatsu shouted in a rough voice.

"Even that cooking, you made it, right? Even though no one asked you to, why do you do things like that!"

Apparently, Chinatsu had realized that I was the one who prepared the food.

Being the diligent Chinatsu, she probably went to Haruhara-san's house to give thanks and learned that Mio's statement was a lie, or perhaps she heard it from one of the sisters.

Chinatsu, her slender shoulders trembling, raised her voice in anger and frustration.

"Is it intended as a slight against me who can't cook? Do you want to say I'm disqualified as a big sister? I'm telling you it's none of your business, stuff like that!"

—Wrong. That's not my intention.

I didn't do it because I wanted to do something like that, nor did I want to make Chinatsu suffer.

The people coming out of the station, the people passing by, everyone is looking at us. Curious eyes. Concerned eyes. Annoyed eyes. Chinatsu can't see any of them right now.

That's why I... fuuuhh, consciously let out a breath.

It is clear that Chinatsu, who is unbearably worried about her little sisters, lacks composure. If I get emotional too, there's no point in me having rushed here.

I spoke in a low tone that would probably sound rather cold.

"This isn't the time to be saying things like that. It's an emergency, so whether it's family or a stranger, use them for now."

"Tch."

Perhaps thinking it was a sound argument, Chinatsu bit her lip and fell silent.

I didn't say "rely on me." For the current Chinatsu, my words would surely be taken as an insult. Besides, I thought that even more than me, Chinatsu is not used to relying on others.

At that moment, my smartphone vibrated in my back pocket. I immediately took it out and tapped the screen.

"There's contact. It's from Hiruoka."

"...Hiruoka?"

Chinatsu was making a face that said "Who?". It's the guy you threw over your shoulder on the first day you transferred.

"A classmate. I contacted Asahina and Hiruoka earlier. I told them Fuka and Sorane's characteristics and asked them to tell me if they see kids who look like them—I'm having them spread the word to guys in the class and clubs."

Me and Chinatsu can only run around the city at best. But Asahina's connections and Hiruoka's information network should function exceptionally well in a manhunt.

Chinatsu, finally understanding the situation, came around to my side. I opened the messaging app.

『From a buddy on his way home from club. There's a witness report that he saw elementary schoolers fitting the description being put into a black van about ten minutes ago.』

At Hiruoka's message, Chinatsu and I looked at each other. Chinatsu's expression was sharply tightened, not just with fear, but with the sensation of having gained a clue to her sisters. She might have recovered her composure somewhat.

"Does this mean Sorane?"

"I don't know. But, it's a possibility."

While saying that, I operated my smartphone and called Hiruoka. It seemed he was on standby on the other end too; he answered before the ringtone even sounded.

"Hiruoka."

『Yo. It's about that message just now, right?』

"Where did they witness it?"

『Higashi-Shizuoka, apparently.』

"Higashi-Shizuoka, huh..."

It's right around the middle between Shizuoka and Kusanagi.

"You wouldn't happen to know the car's number plate, right?"

『It looked suspicious, so apparently he jotted it down.』

"Is he a detective?"

I don't know who it is, but that's an attentiveness worthy of respect. I typed the precious information into my smartphone's memo pad.

Even so, Shizuoka is just huge. For an ordinary person to find a single car is truly like looking for gold dust in a desert.

Then, Chinatsu beside me tugged forcefully at the elbow area of my blazer.

"Hey, look."

"What is it?"

"I said, hey, look... That!"

Having finished typing the text, I looked to where Chinatsu was pointing.

"...Eh?"

My mouth fell wide open. But that's no surprise.

Because stopped at the intersection right in front of our eyes was—a black van sporting the number plate I had just heard.

Because the timing was too good, it didn't feel real. Or rather, there's a police box right next to the station, they have too much nerve—while I was thinking that, the traffic light changed color, and the van started moving.

It was Chinatsu who recovered from the shock faster. Just as I thought she had stretched her arm straight out as if thrusting it into the sky, she stopped an empty taxi firmly right in front of us.

"We're getting in!"

"O-Oh!"

Doing as Chinatsu said, we climbed into the back seat of the taxi side-by-side.

『Huh? Chinatsu-sama's voice? Why?』

"Sorry Hiruoka, you saved us!"

Hiruoka was still saying something on the other end, but I unilaterally cut the call.

"Please follow the car in front!"

Chinatsu leaned forward toward the driver's seat and conveyed that. Ooh, I unintentionally let out a voice. I ended up hearing that longing line that everyone wants to say at least once right next to me...

The driver with narrow eyes, seemingly in his early sixties—according to the plate, his name is Katsuaki Unno-san—looked at Chinatsu's face through the rearview mirror, gripped the steering wheel tightly, and replied powerfully.

"Shall we go then, customer?

Thus began the car chase.

However, since the car in front had no way of knowing we were pursuing them, we both drove down the road at normal speeds. Unno-san maintained a careful distance, neither too close nor too far, and continued the pursuit while skillfully keeping other cars between us at times.

At first, we headed north on Shizuoka Prefectural Route 407, also known as the Nankan Line, but partway through, we turned onto an obscure road. As the scenery rushed by, the number of unfamiliar buildings increased. I tried straining my eyes several times, but the car in front had tinted windows, so I couldn't tell if Sorane was inside or not.

My heart, which had been pounding loudly enough to be annoying due to this situation so far removed from daily life, had regained its calm by this time. There was no point in panicking strangely. Right now, all I could do was rock back and forth in the rear seat.

Glancing to the side, I saw an expressionless Chinatsu crossing her long legs.

"Have you calmed down a little?"

"What are you saying? I've been calm from the start."

"You didn't look like it at all, though..."

Twisting my neck at her composed reply, I asked a question to test her.

"So, what do you intend to do if the car in front stops?"

"That's decided, isn't it? I'll quickly rescue Sorane, and then ki... take down the culprit."

Unno-san, hearing our conversation, muttered something like, "That gives me chills~," but I really wanted him to stop a high school girl who was about to cross a line.

"Wait a minute. We don't know if Sorane was really kidnapped, so we have to call the police first."

"That's exactly it; we didn't witness the kidnapping ourselves. It might be thought of as a bad prank."

Mmm... That is true.

Unable to come up with a counter-argument to Chinatsu, we passed near Shimizu Station. Regardless of where they were heading, the car in front showed no signs of stopping.

Eventually, the view opened up, and the sea became visible on the right. The white spray of the waves was dazzling to the eyes.

Since the sea isn't visible from Kusanagi, I would usually be excited, but as expected, I didn't have the composure to frolic now.

After driving without rest for another twenty minutes or so, the traffic volume rapidly decreased, and we entered a desolate mountain road.

It was a narrow mountain road. Overgrown thickets jutted out overhead from the right side, and the asphalt, piled with fallen leaves, was cracked here and there. It looked creepy just by looking at it. The curved mirror was terribly dirty and hardly served its purpose.

Coming this far, a taxi following them would seem suspicious. Unno-san took even more distance and continued to keep a position where we wouldn't be spotted by the opponent. Since it was a single road, there seemed to be no risk of losing sight of them. Not only was he undaunted by Chinatsu's remarks, but isn't this driver a bit too competent?

"Customer. That car earlier went into that abandoned factory grounds. I believe it used to be an ironworks..."

While advancing cautiously on the narrow road, Unno-san pointed with a wrinkled finger. In detective dramas, it's a cliché for bad guys to use abandoned factories or seaside warehouses as their base, but reality seems to be similar.

"Could you stop here?"

At Chinatsu's request, Unno-san stopped the taxi. In that instant, Chinatsu flung the door open.

"Hey, Chinatsu!"

I was dumbfounded by her back as she ran off without looking aside. Even if it is an abandoned factory, if we're caught trespassing, we would surely be charged with some crime.

—But even if I threatened that she'd get caught, would Chinatsu Miyanaga stop?

The answer was clear without even asking my heart. And since we had come this far, I had no choice but to go along with her.

Checking the taxi meter, I pulled a five-thousand-yen bill from my wallet and handed it to Unno-san.

"Customer, the change!"

"Keep it! Thank you very much!"

Getting out of the taxi, I immediately chased after Chinatsu. Naturally, I didn't barge in from the front but hid behind the closed gates.

Keeping my body low as well, I lined up next to Chinatsu and peered beyond the gates.

The company nameplate had been removed, but according to Unno-san, it used to be an ironworks. The factory itself must have been built by cutting open part of the mountain. The surroundings were enclosed by black trees, and tall weeds were growing as they pleased within the premises.

A building that looked like an office stood in front, and a rusted abandoned car was parked next to it. Further in, there was a building that looked like a workshop, and other small buildings like an auditorium were scattered about. Ivy was entangled here and there on the dilapidated, decaying structures, and they seemed to be in the process of returning to nature right now.

Faced with the silent scenery, I gulped down a lump of saliva. Rather than criminals, the atmosphere felt like ghosts might appear. I want to believe it's a coincidence that the sky suddenly darkened and crows started cawing in the distance.

"It seems the car entered from over there."

Where Chinatsu was looking was an iron gate left open a little distance away. Judging by the hanging plate, it seemed to have been used as an entrance and exit for large vehicles previously.

The deep-colored grove rustled as if to surprise us. But Chinatsu didn't flinch.

"Let's go."

"Roger."

Exchanging words like detectives before a raid, we moved while keeping low.

Beyond the open iron door was a gigantic workshop.

The roof of the building was corrugated and uneven. The shutters were left open, and shards of glass windows broken by age lay scattered by the walls. Of course, the lights weren't on, so the dim interior couldn't be seen well from the outside.

Then, Chinatsu, who had been straining her eyes, gasped.

"H-hey."

Chinatsu stood up and intruded into the grounds. Making good use of cover like the abandoned car and dead trees, she approached the workshop.

While tracking her, I realized why. The rear of the black van we had been chasing was visible inside the workshop. Chinatsu must have seen that and decided to charge in.

Arriving at the workshop, Chinatsu crouched down and peered into the car through the rear glass. Feeling sick at the smell of rusted iron and old machine oil, I looked as well, but there was no one there. It meant the kidnappers, and presumably Sorane, had already gotten out of the car.

Did they abandon the car and move to another building—or location?

Chinatsu was desperate to check the interior of the car, but I looked away from the car for a moment. After taking a breath, I observed the surroundings carefully.

The floor area of the workshop, which had a vaulted ceiling reaching up to the third floor, was probably about the size of a school gymnasium. Large machinery seemed to have been moved out long ago, but there was too much stuff to call it completely empty.

Unpainted steel frames were lined up here and there, and mysterious cords stretched out. There were dirty fire extinguishers and rusted tools as well. Aside from that, items of unknown purpose were piled up everywhere. The time when many people worked here and many sounds echoed was likely in the distant past.

"Hey..."

It was when Chinatsu started to say something in a whisper. A crunch sound, like stepping on sand, came from right nearby, and I instantly covered Chinatsu's mouth, which was right in front of me, with one hand.

The two of us looked at each other in disbelief.

"...!?"

Vermilion rose on Chinatsu's cheeks, and her lips moved in protest under my hand. Each time she did, warm breath hit my palm, sending shivers down my spine.

Praying that she wouldn't make a sound, the voices of unknown men echoed inside the factory.

"Oi. How is it?"

"Nobody here."

We both stiffened our bodies. The voices that resonated were a thick male voice and a mumbling male voice. I wondered if the latter was a foreigner, as his Japanese was somewhat awkward.

There are two kidnappers. No, it's possible there are more. Having entered from a different entrance, they didn't seem to have noticed our presence yet.

However, although we are currently separated by the car, there is nowhere to run. At this rate, eventually...

"—Just kidding."

It was at that moment.

At the same time the fine hairs on my back stood on end, I leaped at Chinatsu.

Protecting Chinatsu's head, we fell together. Immediately after, an iron pipe gouged the place where we had been with a violent clang!

One of the men had thrown it over the car. Aiming at the rats hiding in ambush.

"Oi oi, I thought it was the cops, but it's high schoolers."

As we stood up covered in dust, the kidnappers seemed at least a little surprised.

"Why are you guys in a place like this? Doesn't look like you're hooked on some immoral play in an abandoned factory... though."

A large man who looked strong at a glance, with a big scar on his right cheek, smiled at us. However, his eyes were not smiling at all; he was looking down on us with a glaring gaze.

Picking up the iron pipe was a skinny blond man. Both were dressed entirely in black.

Leaving the question unanswered, Chinatsu, her mouth drawn in a straight line, stepped in front of me. She opened her legs and readied her fists at shoulder height. In those eyes, not a speck of agitation or fear from encountering criminals floated.

Looking at Chinatsu's whole body taking a stance without gaps, the large man raised the corners of his mouth amusedly and closed the distance.

"Munh!"

"Tch!"

Chinatsu parried the fist that was unleashed without warning.

But immediately after blocking the fist, a kick was released. A powerful kick to the abdomen. Chinatsu, with her light weight, stood no chance and was blown away to the wall.

"—Chinatsu!"

From the steel rack Chinatsu crashed into, some equipment fell, kicking up a large amount of dust.

"What a problem. It's not my hobby to hurt women—especially kids."

Liar. You aimed at Chinatsu without hesitation.

Disregarding me as I glared at him while coughing, the large man rotated his shoulders and headed toward Chinatsu with a leisurely gait.

However, I didn't have the luxury to only worry about her. The blond man swung the iron pipe down at me.

"Ora!"

"!"

I dodged by a hair's breadth and rolled on the floor, but I couldn't switch to a counterattack.

To begin with, I'm only good at dodging attacks. I've never even had a fistfight with friends at the riverbank. After all, I had absolutely no friends.

If it came to this, I should have learned martial arts itself from Dad... A belated regret ran through my chest, but perhaps thanks to being trained by such a father, I managed to dodge the iron pipe itself.

It was obvious after facing him for ten-odd seconds, but the blond man seemed to have no skill. Although he swung his weapon roughly, there was a lot of waste in his movements, and I didn't feel he was a threat. If a gun were pointed at me, I'd surrender, but unlike the large man over there, he seemed to be just a washed-up thug who had survived tough situations through simple violence.

If anything, what I needed to be careful of was not the iron pipe itself, but my footing and overhead. Not only cords and tools, but iron plates and steel frames were scattered on the floor. If I tripped on those and lost my balance, and he aimed for that moment, it would be the end of me.

Abandoning any thought of counterattacking from the start, I moved around while constantly checking the situation.

The blond man, who was spirited at first, seemed to have tired from moving around. While breathing with his shoulders, he spoke in an interrogating tone, perhaps to show his dominance.

"Why did you follow us?"

"Where is Sorane?"

"...Sorane?"

When I mentioned the name instead of answering, the man knitted his thin brows.

Our attention was diverted when a clang clang clang! sound, like metal being struck violently, rang out.

Shifting my gaze upward, I saw Chinatsu running up a staircase that had been left unfinished near the wall. Wondering what she intended to do, at the end of the stairs, she jumped onto a running rail attached to the building's pillar and reached the orange overhead crane installed above it. Only the crane remained, and parts for hoisting loads seemed to have been removed.

Moving that lightly in loafers was impressive, but perhaps due to taking several hits, a bruise had formed on her left cheek, and she was bleeding from below the knee. The large man was chasing the injured Chinatsu with ample composure.

When Chinatsu noticed the large man approaching, she shuffled across the top of the crane. The width of the foothold was only about fifty centimeters. The sight of the "Safety First" sticker pasted there seemed like a bad joke.

Partway through, Chinatsu stopped and turned around. Because the large man had climbed onto the same crane. Aiming at Chinatsu who took a stance in the middle, the large man grinned.

Chinatsu brushed away a fist aiming for her face with her hand. Taking a straight kick with her knee, she unleashed a counter thrust, but due to the considerable difference in physique, the attack didn't reach the opponent. Presumably, similar offense and defense had continued while I wasn't looking.

Clang, clang, clang! Every time the hard sounds echoed far overhead, dust and wood chips sprinkled down. While dodging the iron pipe swung down at me by a thin margin, I couldn't help but worry about Chinatsu fighting near the ceiling.

Although she was parrying attacks by a hair's breadth, Chinatsu was consistently being pushed back. She might have bet on a one-shot reversal, but a fight on such a narrow foothold must be mentally taxing as well. It was a height where falling meant a risk to her life.

Every time I cast my gaze upward, Chinatsu was being pushed inch by inch toward the tip of the crane. Even from this distance, I could see profuse sweat running down her cheeks.

It was a scene just like the climax of a movie. If she could fly, plenty of chances for a counterattack would have remained. But Chinatsu, a normal girl, cannot fly. Even if I wanted to help somehow, the only ones on the ground were me, who could only dodge attacks, and the enemy guy.

At that moment, what I feared happened.

Caught off guard and taking a kick to the torso, Chinatsu's upper body tilted unsteadily to a fatal degree.

The large man followed up with a leg sweep right there. Her slender body, unable to resist, was thrown out into the air.

"Ah."

Even that small, leaked breath reached my ears.

"Chinatsu!!"

Convinced of his victory, the large man lifted only one corner of his mouth and smiled nastily.

"............?"

Bending forward excitedly to take a look at the girl slamming into the ground, the large man peered down. However, his expression looking down at the ground soon distorted from delight to a form of question. Because the figure of the girl who should have fallen was nowhere to be found.

Then, where on earth did she disappear to—the answer was floating up behind the bending large man.

"BEHIND YOU!"

Even though the blond man who noticed screamed, it was already too late.

"————Doryaaaaaa!"

With a spirit-tearing yell, Chinatsu slammed a reverse heel drop with all her might into the back of his defenseless head.

Chinatsu, who had feigned falling, had grabbed the protrusion under the crane with just the strength of her fingers, rotated her body backward in the manner of a horizontal bar pullover, and delivered a blow from behind.

"Ngaaah!?"

The large man, taking a blow carrying centrifugal force, fell from the foothold while letting out a stupid scream.

"U-Uwaa—!"

Next, as if by a god's mischievous prank, the large man fell aiming right for the head of the flustered blond man.

An indescribably violent crash sound. The two, who had fallen in a heap, were completely knocked out.

The villains had been caught in one fell swoop, but—half dumbfounded, I looked up at Chinatsu.

"Aah."

I unintentionally let out a voice because the person in question had fallen into a terrible crisis. Although she had dealt an irreproachable attack, perhaps the momentum had been too good. Chinatsu was hanging from the crane again with her slender arms. That effort wouldn't last long, and her slender body was thrown into the air as if chasing the afterimage of a nightmare.

Chinatsu!

I screamed in my heart. Desperately suppressing the reflex to dodge, I spread both arms.

The earlier example proved that falling from that height would not end well. Even if I get injured, I have to catch her somehow—! Or so I was thinking, but Chinatsu deftly changed the direction of her body in mid-air and landed lightly on the backs of the piled-up kidnappers.

Thud! A terrifying crash sound echoed. Reflected in the eyes of Chinatsu, who had returned to the ground, was the figure of a stupid-looking me with my mouth wide open and both hands spread out.

"What are you doing?"

"...It's nothing."

I quickly hid my hands, which had lost their purpose, behind my back.

Making a sour face at her dirt-covered uniform, Chinatsu stopped the bleeding on her knee with a handkerchief she took from her pocket.

"Even so, I didn't think I could actually win."

"...Ha?"

When I reacted to that unbelievable remark, Chinatsu said, looking a little frustrated.

"There was almost no chance of winning. The difference in power was obvious from the first exchange alone."

"But... you won."

"I knew that if I just stood against him ready to die, I would definitely lose—so as a gamble, I tried being blown away exaggeratedly by the first kick. After that, when I behaved as if I had openings here and there, he attacked me as if to torment me. I thought I might be able to manage if he was that type. You know, a weak, wounded prey fleeing makes a hunter want to chase it, right? I just finished him with full power when he let his guard down."

Against an overwhelmingly powerful opponent, she snatched a narrow victory after crossing a dangerous bridge risking her life. Chinatsu spoke of such a thing in a matter-of-fact tone. In that painful-looking, wounded state.

"Well, I guess opportunities to punch a black belt high school girl don't come around often."

I couldn't believe that composure. What Chinatsu did was practically a gamble. To dismiss it with words like "having guts" is too...

"Then, the fact that the large man who was kicked off crashed into the blond man was also?"

"Because you can only dodge, right? Then I had no choice but to weave a plan to take them down by myself."

Chinatsu, having finished stopping the bleeding with practiced hands, stood up.

It wasn't a coincidence mixed with luck, nor did God help us. It was a victory reeled in and grasped through calculation—the girl who declared this without boasting then threw something at me.

"Here, this is no time for chatting. Tie his hands and feet with this."

What was tossed to me was a rope soaked in the smell of oil.

It seems she had found it in these ruins before I knew it. Nodding without being able to say anything, I tightly bound the blond man with the rope. Chinatsu carefully bound the large man, putting her grudge into it.

Just as we finished our silent work, Chinatsu pointed.

"So, earlier, I saw it from above. In that section over there, there was a place where a brand-new curtain was drawn."

"...Could it be that Sorane is there?"

"Maybe."

Chinatsu, with a sharp light in her eyes, started running ahead.

Dodging steel frames and obstacles, we arrived at a space with few objects, as if that area alone had been cut out. There was no curtain rail; instead, a brand-new curtain was hung as if hooked onto the top of a metal rack placed against the wall.

It was a standard curtain, so it probably wasn't for welding. In other words, there was a high possibility that the kidnappers had prepared it.

Chinatsu signaled me with her eyes, then placed her hand on the curtain.

"...!"

Swhish, the curtain was quickly opened.

On the other side, waiting in a small space laid out with a blue tarp was—a girl whose appearance somewhat resembled Sorane's.

Her age and height were probably about the same. Suu, suu, she was breathing regularly in her sleep. A school backpack was placed next to her curled-up body.

"It's... not Sorane?"

Chinatsu murmured in a voice that was neither relief nor disappointment.

Faster than her breath could dissolve into the air, a man with an unfamiliar face leaped out from behind the rack.

Letting out a strange cry, he swung a metal bat down at me, who was in front. At that moment, I finally realized my blunder.

It wasn't two people from the start. There were three kidnappers.

—I've repeated it enough to be sick of it by now, but I am only good at dodging.

I'm good at it, but... if I dodge, Chinatsu behind me will definitely take the hit.

Resolved, I felt a strong impact on my head. I'm not even sure if I screamed "Ouch!" or not.

The last thing I saw was Chinatsu's face, eyes wide open in astonishment. Immediately after, the world spun, and my hazy consciousness fell into darkness.

◇◇◇

—Mom, when are you coming home?

Dreams where Mom appears always start with that one sentence of mine.

Seeing Mom and Dad's faces, I first feel regret. I shouldn't have asked that just now. Even if I want to take it back, a word uttered in reality cannot be overturned even in a dream.

To my question, Mom smiles and replies.

—It's okay, Rikuto. Surely, it will be soon.

The Mom in my memory is in a white room that smells of medicine. That quiet, nervous, and clean room scares me a little, and I always want to go home quickly.

Of course, if Mom is with me, I have no complaints. When I reach out as hard as I can and hug around Mom's waist, Mom strokes my head and says: Soon. Very soon. Before long. Just a little longer... The list of words prefixed with "surely" echoes in my head, and I feel suffocated.

When I timidly look up, I can only see Mom's mouth. I wonder why, I can't see her face clearly. Even though she should have been smiling at me...

On the way home. Sitting in the car driven by Dad, I open my mouth as if afraid of the silence.

—Hey, Dad. Mom told me. The reason our house is big.

Mom told me when Dad went to change the water in the vase.

—When you eloped? When you ran away together, Dad went ahead and took out a loan? Saying things like "We'll be surrounded by lots of family and become a happy grandpa and grandma~," you went and built a big house without consulting mom even once, right? Mom said Dad always acts without thinking.

That's right, Dad said, narrowing his eyes nostalgically while gripping the steering wheel.

At that time, I didn't understand. Why was Dad crying? Why was snot dripping from his nose like a small child? Without understanding, I returned my gaze outside the window.

A while after that, Dad said to me.

—Rikuto. Listen. Mom has become a star.

Even without being told in a childish way, I knew.

Mom had died. Leaving me and Dad behind, she had died. I can no longer meet Mom.

The people who attended the funeral were few enough to count. having left the place she was born and raised, Mom had almost no close acquaintances who would come to her funeral.

Among them were people who said they were Mom's parents. I didn't speak to them directly. The two didn't even look at me. Instead, they took Dad and went somewhere.

Although the adults around me tried to stop me, I shook them off and chased after Dad.

I don't remember everything, but Mom's parents were saying things like this.

Because there was the loan repayment too, Mom was working a year after giving birth to me. Chased by child-rearing, housework, and a job, in busy days with no leeway, the discovery of her cancer was delayed because of that, and she died young in her twenties.

I don't know how much of it was true, but Dad didn't deny it even once.

Finally, Mom's father spat out while crying.

—Because she married someone like you, my daughter became unhappy. Give that child back to us.

Dad, who usually always held his chest high, looked forward, and was cooler than anyone else, kept looking down at that time. Watching him like that was painful for me, and tears gradually overflowed from both my eyes. I thought if they were going to blame someone, they should blame me instead of Dad, but I couldn't say it.

Dad and I ended up living just the two of us.

Dad became absorbed in work more than ever before. That was probably to distract himself from the loneliness of Mom being gone, and I think it was also simply because he had to earn money. For my sake, so as not to make me unhappy, Dad worked desperately, grinding his body to dust.

I realized immediately. Mom is no longer here. So as not to be a burden on Dad, I have to become able to do everything Mom used to do. Otherwise, next time, Dad might disappear too.

I swore to become a child who doesn't require much care. Housework, personal things, I'll become able to do every single one of them. Cooking. Dishwashing. Laundry. Cleaning. So that no one makes fun of me, I won't slack off in my studies either.

In the midst of days learning housework one by one while failing many times, our beloved dog Hana died. No matter how hard I tried, my family only decreased.

Every time I realized my loneliness, I wanted to scream until my voice went hoarse.

Someone.

Anyone is fine, just stay by my side.

I want to talk about what happened at school today. I studied hard and got a good score on the test. Even in the 50-meter dash, the teacher praised me. Even though I don't do club activities, he said it was impressive.

Because I have no one to talk to, when I'm with friends, I feel lonely even though it's fun.

I hate rainy days. Everyone runs and gets into cars driven by their parents while complaining to the sky. But because there's no one to come pick me up, I absolutely must not forget my umbrella. Forgetting things is forbidden too. Even if the school contacts an empty house, no one will deliver it to me.

I hate class observation days. Children who usually doze off or fool around all raise their hands on this day. They try to show their good side to their parents. Even though I have to hold my breath because there's no one to be happy about me raising my hand.

I hate days when I catch a cold even more. Because I have to call the school myself. When I see Dad who came home in a great panic, I tear up feeling pathetic for causing trouble even though I'm happy.

I hate playing at friends' houses. Everyone treats their family poorly, saying "Go away" in a strong tone. Even though they possess what I can't get my hands on as a matter of course, they don't cherish it. Everyone is allowed to remain a child who causes trouble. Even though I can no longer be like that.

I hate bento days. I hate long breaks. I hate essays writing about family memories. I hate it all. Helplessly, the things I hate keep increasing. The things I like keep decreasing. Only dirty emotions accumulate like sediment, and I become unable to escape.

I'm envious. It's painful. It's unfair. It's too much. Why only me. Why...

Why does everyone have a dad and a mom, get delicious meals made for them every day, get their heads patted, take baths together, watch TV, laugh, sometimes have quarrels, be cared for even when they pretend to run away from home, get hugged, enjoy so much kindness as a matter of course, and get to live like that?

Because I didn't want to trouble anyone, I never once voiced it, but.

I was lonely.

I was lonely. —In truth, very much so.

Yes, it was when I screamed without a voice.

Something touches my hand. At that sensation, my eyelids twitched.

The reason I felt helplessly relieved was that it felt terribly nostalgic. Cherishingly squeezing back that small, warm hand, I called out as if tracing the continuation of the dream.

"Mom...?"

As I gradually opened my eyes, a face completely different from Mom's was peering into mine.

It was Chinatsu.

"........................"

Our eyes meeting, I remained silent for a while. Even though I just messed up with Hana and Karin the other day, to mistake Chinatsu for Mom next. It's a blunder of a lifetime.

Filled with shame that made me want to hold my head and writhe in agony, the one who averted her gaze first was Chinatsu.

"It was tough, you know, carrying you here."

Did she carry me on her back? or was it a princess carry? Either way, it's uncool, so I decided not to think too deeply about it.

"Sorry. Ow...!"

When I tried to sit up, a sharp pain ran through my head.

"Hey, don't push yourself. You were hit in the head."

Chinatsu added, looking a little flustered.

"You're bleeding a little too."

"...Seriously?"

"Dead serious. I stopped the bleeding, but do you feel sick, or can't move your limbs or anything?"

"Hmm, I think that part is okay."

I gently touched the painful spot with my fingers. Apparently, there's a lump on my head. Touching the roots of my bangs, the blood had dried to a crisp.

Looking around belatedly, we seemed to be outside the workshop—in a structure like a gazebo. Since there is a roof, it's dim around us, but not pitch black. It seems not much time has passed since I lost consciousness.

On the bench next to us, there is the figure of an elementary school girl sleeping soundly.

"What about the third guy earlier?"

"He stopped moving after I gave him a spinning kick. I tied him up and left him there."

Chinatsu answered curtly.

I exhaled the breath accumulated in my lungs, then apologized.

"Sorry. I'm pathetic, aren't I?"

I made a big boast to Mio, and this is the result. Far from being helpful to Chinatsu, I've been nothing but a nuisance from start to finish.

"It's not like you're pathetic or anything. ...Even with that attack earlier, you could have actually dodged it."

Since I was prepared for merciless abuse, it was unexpected for Chinatsu to say something like that.

"Besides, you jumped into a dangerous place together with me, didn't you?"

"Yeah. Because you don't think about the consequences at all."

"Shut up. I don't know about that."

Pretending not to hear inconvenient things, she turned her face away looking displeased.

But before we were enveloped in the silence of the mountain night, Chinatsu spoke to me, saying "Hey."

"It's a precious home, and family, isn't it?"

Her voice, with a different temperature than usual, resembles when Chinatsu talks to her little sisters.

But, I have no recollection of Chinatsu being kind to me... no, there is just one thing.

"...Did I say something in my sleep?"

"Who knows."

Apparently, I did say something. It's normally embarrassing.

I want to tell her to forget it, but there was something more important right now. The identity of the warm and soft sensation supporting the back of my head has been bothering me for a while now.

Looking up, Chinatsu's well-featured face is right above my head. As expected, judging from the angle too, this is—

"Hey. By any chance, are you giving me a lap pillow?"

When I asked directly, Chinatsu scrunched her eyebrows.

"Isn't that wrong?"

"No, but, the sensation is..."

"I'm telling you it's wrong. Gross."

A new discovery. Being told politely hurts my heart more than "Gross!" or something.

While I was feeling dejected, Chinatsu quickly changed the subject.

"Anyway, right now, I've called the police, an ambulance, and a taxi. We have to get this girl taken into protective custody."

"That's right. Her parents must be worried too."

As far as I can see, she doesn't seem injured, but you can't tell by appearance alone. It would be better to have her properly examined at a hospital.

"You should go to the hospital too."

"What about you?"

I'm not the only one who got hurt.

But I knew Chinatsu's answer without even asking.

"I'm fine. I'll search for Sorane and Fuka."

Just as Chinatsu declared without hesitation, my smartphone, still in my back pocket, vibrated.

I wiggled my body and took the smartphone in my hand. Every time I moved my head, Chinatsu put strength into her shoulders as if enduring ticklishness. ...Yeah, no matter how you think about it, it's a lap pillow.

The message that arrived is from Mio.

At its content, I was taken aback for a moment. Chinatsu seemed to have noticed sharply.

"What. What's wrong?"

"Those two, apparently they came back home."

"...Eh?"

"It's a message from Mio, so there's no mistake."

When I showed her the screen, Chinatsu froze for a while.

"Ooph."

Immediately after, thud, my face sank into the hard floor of the gazebo. It was because I rolled off Chinatsu’s knee who suddenly stood up.

"D-Don't drop me suddenly. That hurts more than being hit with a bat!"

"More importantly than that, we have to go home quickly!"

With force that drowned out the end of the impatient Chinatsu's sentence, siren sounds rang out in succession.

Looking over, five patrol cars and two ambulances had stopped outside the premises. People were getting out of them one after another.

It's a large property, but they seem to grasp where everything is and are moving briskly. Chinatsu might have told them the locations of the buildings in detail.

The ones who noticed us and ran over were two men in suits. They had paramedics carrying a stretcher behind them.

"We are the police."

Shown police badges by the two, I gulped down my saliva. R-real detectives. First time seeing them.

"I made the call. As I conveyed on the phone, three kidnappers are tied up in that building over there. Also, we secured this girl from the kidnappers."

While Chinatsu explained while pointing, their gazes were directed toward the girl. The paramedics quickly checked the girl's condition and nodded to the detectives.

The older detective, exhaling as if relieved, stared at Chinatsu with bewilderment.

"Umm... Did you kids really restrain the criminals?"

His eyes say he can't believe it.

"Yes, that is correct. Is that all?"

The detectives looked at each other, revealing their confusion. Next, the younger detective spoke.

"We would like to hear the details from the two of you, but..."

Though polite, it was a tone that brooked no argument.

That makes sense. If I were in their position, I'd say the same. High school students who captured criminals are undoubtedly material witnesses to the incident.

"I'm sorry. We have important business."

However, Chinatsu declared as if cutting off the flow, and turned her back on the detectives as if she had fulfilled her duty.

"You go quietly to the hospital!"

Increasing her speed, Chinatsu shouted loudly at me. But I had no intention of listening.

"Like hell I can do that!"

"W-Wait a minute, you kids—"

"We are truly sorry!"

Apologizing, I started running too. This isn't the time to go to a hospital or the police station.

"Wait! Wait, you kids!"

The dumbfounded detectives seemed to have returned to their senses. Footsteps chased us from behind, but waving both arms, we just ran. If we get caught, surely we'll be detained for hours.

What stopped in front of us as we ran was a single taxi. As soon as we saw the rear door open automatically, Chinatsu and I jumped in without stopping our momentum. Come to think of it, Chinatsu had called a taxi. Even so, the timing is outstanding.

"Driver-san. Please hurry to Kusanagi!"

When Chinatsu requested, a reliable smile was returned.

"That's good. With this, I can give you a ride for the change from earlier."

Eh? Thinking that, I looked closely at the driver's seat, and there was the figure of the super driver who had chased the kidnappers' car earlier... Unno-san.

To us staring at him with trust, Unno-san said.

"Now. Fasten your seatbelts, you two!"

◇◇◇

Thanking Unno-san, who sped for us without breaking the legal speed limit, I got out of the taxi that had stopped in front of the house.

While I was paying, Chinatsu had already thrown the front door wide open.

"Sorane! Fuka—!"

What returned to her desperate call was a small explosion sound.

"Happy Birthday, Chinatsu-oneesama (Natsu-nee)!"

Looking over Chinatsu's shoulder, I saw the figures of the four younger sisters in front of the entryway.

That said, Mio just had a troubled look, and Karin stood behind with an exasperated look. Standing behind her, I had no way of knowing what kind of face Chinatsu was making after taking a direct hit from the party crackers held by the two youngest sisters.

"We have cake today too, Chinatsu-oneesama. And of course, presents!"

"Presents! Presents!"

From the statements of the two who were frolicking and waving their hands, a single truth emerged.

Sweating, I asked timidly.

"Hey. Could it be that today is..."

It was Fuka who answered.

"Even without saying 'could it be', today—May 2nd is Chinatsu-oneesama's birthday. Did you not know?"

Even if she said it like it was common knowledge, of course I didn't know.

Because when Dad asked for her birthday, Chinatsu only answered, "Born in May." If Chinatsu had given a precise answer back then, I might have realized that possibility sooner.

—In other words, today is Chinatsu's birthday.

To buy birthday presents, Fuka and Sorane had gone out, keeping it a secret from everyone around them. To surprise their beloved Chinatsu at this very moment.

So that's what it was. These guys, what troublemakers they are...

Chinatsu is also a cause for this misunderstanding. Prioritizing her sisters too much, nine times out of ten, Chinatsu had forgotten her own birthday. That's why the idea that her sisters were going to buy her birthday presents probably didn't even cross her mind.

Knowing the truth, I unintentionally lost my strength.

I got off with just that level of reaction, but Chinatsu was different.

Chinatsu, standing stiff as a board, looked down. Eventually, her clenched fists began to tremble violently—and her anger, which easily breached the critical point, exploded exactly five seconds later.

"Y-Y-Y-You... stupid little sisters!!"

It was a roar that made the explosive sound of the crackers seem cute.

No joke, the walls rattled and shook. After unleashing a roar so loud I worried the house would blow away, let alone my eardrums bursting, Chinatsu turned on her heel and dashed out of the house.

After her footsteps faded away, I fearfully looked toward the remaining sisters.

At first, Fuka and Sorane looked blank, not understanding what had happened. Being yelled at by the gentle sister who raised them with utmost care was likely a first-time experience in their lives.

Soon, Sorane, recovering from the shock, began to tremble in small bursts.

"...Uh, ugh, eeh, eh."

Fuka tried to admonish her youngest sister, whose shoulders were shaking as she leaked sobs, with a trembling voice.

"S-Sorane. It's a birthday party, so you must not cry. Y-You mustn't cr... hue..."

Perhaps due to her self-awareness as an older sister, she held back desperately at first. But both of their eyelids twitched, noses sniffled, and the corners of their mouths quivered...

"Waaaaaaah!"

"Fueeeeeeeeh!"

With high-pitched voices that made a ringing sound deep in the ears, they began to cry grandly.

With their faces crumpled and distorted, tears spilled down. Unable to bear it, Karin frowned and covered her ears, but I spoke to Mio standing beside her.

"Mio, I'm really sorry. Can I leave the two of them to you?"

It didn't look like a situation that could be brought under control, but right now I have to leave it to the eldest person present. Since I don't think I can count on Karin, the one I can rely on is Mio.

Mio nodded vigorously and said something. Judging from the movement of her mouth, she was confirming, "What about you, Onii-san?" but I couldn't hear her at all over the crying voices of Fuka and the other.

"I'm going to chase after Chinatsu!"

When I conveyed words similar to our exchange a few hours ago in a loud voice, Mio pressed her small lips together tightly and bowed her head.

"...Please take care of her!"

The voice squeezed from the bottom of her stomach certainly struck my eardrums.

I left the entrance and looked around the street, but Chinatsu's back was nowhere to be seen.

With how fast she runs, there's probably already quite a distance between us... but the problem is, I have absolutely no idea where Chinatsu went.

"Some shop... no, everything is closed at this time."

According to the clock in the taxi, the time was around 8:00 PM. I can't easily think of a place where a high school student in uniform would go at this hour.

"Asahina's house... is unlikely."

I denied it myself after saying it aloud. I don't think that Chinatsu would head to a friend's place just because it's an emergency. The very idea of relying on someone doesn't exist within Chinatsu.

That's right. Because she is like me.

"Anyway, I'll run around and try to search."

I exhaled a deep breath.

It really has been a long day. My whole body is so heavy and sluggish that I want to dive into my futon and reflect on it all, but I scold myself that there's one more push to make and move my legs.

Looking up at the sky, not a single star could be seen due to the cloudy weather. I don't even know where the moon is. I can only vaguely make out the shapes of clouds drifting by occasionally.

Looked down upon by such an unfriendly night sky, I ran earnestly through the dark streets.

Perhaps because I don't usually go out at this time, when I let my guard down for a moment, I felt a forlorn feeling like I had wandered into a foreign city. I thought that Chinatsu must be in this same night too.

If I found Chinatsu, I had decided what I would tell her.

Certainly, Fuka and Sorane caused the family great worry. They were safe this time, but there was a possibility they could have been involved in some accident or incident. That is a fact, so I must scold them properly.

But after scolding them, we should rejoice that they were safe. Both of them had no bad intentions; they were just single-mindedly wanting to make their sister happy.

So, apologize to the two of them properly. That was how I intended to lecture her.

I intended to, but—such emotions withered away when I found Chinatsu.

Haa, haa, breathing with my shoulders, I stopped.

"Uwaaaaaaaah!"

Where Chinatsu was, was a riverside road about a five-minute walk from the house.

Located on the outskirts of a quiet residential area, it was a road with truly nothing there. If I had to say, it had few streetlights, so people rarely pass by at night.

In such a place, silent enough to be chilling, Chinatsu was raising her voice and crying waa-waa.

If anything, she was crying more intensely than the younger Sorane and Fuka. I stood still for a while, scratched the back of my head, and slowly approached Chinatsu.

I stopped when I was about a meter away.

"Why are you the one crying?"

Jolt, her thin shoulders trembled.

The tear-stained face that turned around was not something fit to be seen.

First of all, there wasn't a dry spot on her face. Multiple wrinkles were gathered between her eyebrows and on the tip of her nose, her cheeks were twitching, and her snot was dripping; the beautiful girl was ruined.

But that was natural. Reality is different from beautiful stories. Chinatsu's tears aren't tears meant to be shown to someone. She was frustrated, sad, helpless, indignant, and overwhelmed.

That is exactly why I thought the crying face of the girl in front of me was helplessly beautiful.

"B-Because, those kids, were safe!"

Hic, hic, leaking sobs, Chinatsu spoke in a voice difficult to hear. Apparently, she was wailing out of sheer relief. But in that case, she should have just hugged them right after scolding Fuka and the others, I thought, exasperated.

"You really aren't honest, are you, Onee-chan."

But there was more to Chinatsu's words. In between the ceaselessly flowing tears, clutching the chest of her shirt tightly enough to wrinkle it, she spun disjointed words.

"Besides, I, couldn't protect those kids. B-Big sister has to be more reliable. I-If those kids had really been kidnapped today, if something irreversible had happened, I, I..."

Seeing her blame herself while sobbing, I lost my words.

"...What are you saying? Both Fuka and Sorane were safe."

"Th-Th-That's just focusing on the result."

Well, of course, it is results-oriented logic, but.

Although bewildered, I lined up the facts in front of Chinatsu, who seemed unable to see anything through her tears.

"Fuka and Sorane were safe. We saved a stranger elementary schooler. The bad guys were caught. Far from just enough, isn't this a perfect, flawless ending with nothing more to ask for? There's no need to corner yourself talking about 'what ifs'."

I thought she would cleanly accept that saying "That's true," but Chinatsu spoke in a cracking voice.

"G-Go away."

"Huh?"

"Just go away. I don't want to talk to you or anything!"

Hearing her stubborn voice, I opened and closed my mouth before biting my lip.

It's no use. Standard words surely won't reach her.

That's right, Natsuki-san said it. She—Chinatsu is just too strict on herself. When it comes to her sisters, she can't be satisfied unless she gets a perfect score of 100.

She will probably cry aloud in a place with no one around like this, today and from now on. She has probably lived like that all this time until now.

I failed. I couldn't protect them. I wasn't good enough again. I'm a useless person. Denying her efforts and actions like that, being cornered, she drives herself into a stricter, harsher environment and heads toward a place with no exit. Even though her heart and body are exhausted and worn tattered every time she does.

In elementary school, she didn't give up even after suffering serious injuries. Today, while accurately analyzing that there was an overwhelming difference in ability, she stood up to the opponent without flinching.

Chinatsu is certainly amazing. Even if it is for her sisters, there are rarely sisters or brothers who can demonstrate courage like her.

But, that isn't courage. It should be called recklessness. Postponing herself, neglecting herself, sacrificing herself... I don't think the future arrived at by protecting someone that way is a happy one.

I took a deep breath to calm myself.

The rush sound of the river water flowing. The bubble bubble sound of bubbles forming and popping. The sound of trees swaying their branches and leaves. Taking the clear night air into every corner of my lungs—I shouted with a force rivaling Chinatsu's roar from earlier.

"Are you an idiot!!"

When I yelled that, Chinatsu's body trembled greatly. As if to cover up even that weakness of trembling, she immediately glared at me.

"W-What is it? You don't know anything...!"

"I understand. Even I have things I understand."

Walking up briskly, I grabbed Chinatsu's shoulders. Even though she's a black belt and carries a stun gun, her body is surprisingly slender. Truly, as if she might break if I put just a little more strength into it.

If no one has been able to say it to this Chinatsu until now.

I have to say it right here and now.

"There's no way you alone, just one person, can protect four people all by yourself!"

When I thrust the chest-gouging reality at her without mercy, a massive amount of water welled up further in Chinatsu's eyes, which had stiffened for a moment. It soon overflowed as large tears, running down her chin.

"S-Such... such a thing..."

"It's decided that it's impossible, you idiot! No matter how hard you try, no matter how much effort you put in, there is a limit! That should be obvious!"

She must be almost in a state of oxygen deficiency from crying too much. Chinatsu, with a bright red face, retorted as if resisting the fact I thrust at her, while wheezing intermittently.

"Even, so... I have to, do it."

Her shoulders, which I was still holding, trembled. While her lips quivered many times, Chinatsu glared at me sharply with both wet eyes, instead of weeping weakly.

"I want to protect them! Because... I want those kids to be happy... and laughing, always, forever!"

What was poured out even while sobbing violently were words from the center of Chinatsu's heart, which wouldn't waver even a little no matter how much I shook her. Taking that head-on, a numbness carrying sweetness and pain ran through my solar plexus.

What is this, I wonder. The feeling I'm tasting right now, the welling emotion, the overflowing thought—what name should I give it to be satisfied?

I don't know the answer immediately. I felt it was okay not to know. Because right now, rather than searching my own heart, I had words I wanted to convey to Chinatsu.

I released my hands from Chinatsu's shoulders. And I declared in a clear voice.

"Let's form a united front."

Rustle, a wind blew, swaying the trees.

Chinatsu, who raised her face, stopped sobbing abruptly.

"...Hah?"

"A united front to protect the sisters, by you and me. Even if it's difficult alone, if there are two of us, we should be able to do it. No, we definitely can."

Saying "you," I pointed at Chinatsu. Saying "me," I pointed at my own chest, and directed a strong gaze at the girl before my eyes.

That's right. I didn't want to deny Chinatsu's past. Scolding Chinatsu who keeps doing reckless things, and acknowledging her who will surely remain fundamentally unchanged—I just wanted to declare that I am here next to such a you.

Perhaps in the middle of the meaning of the words soaking into her brain, Chinatsu looked dumbfounded, as if she had forgotten how to cry. Opening her already large eyes wide, she stared at me as if doubting whether I was an illusion.

Reflected in those eyes shining round like the moon, I, who had less composure than anyone, said to Chinatsu.

"I won't let you be alone."

"......"

"I'll be by your side. I will absolutely not let you be alone."

That was a vow.

It was a single oath that would never be broken no matter what happened.

Because I understand. I just end up understanding.

Because you have to be reliable, you've been bracing your shoulders and trying hard, haven't you? Being the eldest, you couldn't rely on anyone, didn't whine, and desperately stood your ground, didn't you?

I understand.

I understand, you know.

Because you are me.

Only I know the lonely brilliance that doesn't lose even to the stars, having continued to fight all alone.

"But, for me, you are a little sister too. Because my birthday is exactly one month earlier than yours Chinatsu."

"...!"

When I added that while breaking my expression a little, Chinatsu opened and closed her mouth like a fish. To Chinatsu, who was unusually full of openings, I told her with the momentum.

"That's why I'll protect the five of you, including you Chinatsu. No matter how much you hate it, I'll become your stepbrother. Be prepared."

When I thrust that at her unilaterally, Chinatsu bit her lip. Her downcast eyes were hidden by her hair spilling down fluttering, and as her expression shadowed, even her voice fell to the other side of the veil of night.

"...What is that. Something like that..."

"You refuse?"

But, eventually, the clouds drifted away, and when the hidden moon illuminated the ground brightly.

Chinatsu, taking a deep breath as if to gain momentum, wiped the tears and snot forcefully with the sleeve of her clothes.

And—the girl who was more dangerous than anyone and couldn't be left unsupervised, showed me a smile while swaying her long hair. It was a natural and soft smile, like a tightly tied knot that had become helpless finally coming undone.

"I wouldn't have it any other way!"

Under the moonlight, Chinatsu laughing while showing her pure white teeth was exceptionally beautiful.

Startled by that expression, I murmured quietly.

"I was surprised. When you laugh, you look like a normal high school girl."

"...How do I usually look in your eyes?"

"A gorilla with children."

Chinatsu, smiling sweetly, pulled my cheeks to the left and right. Wait, aren't my lips tearing to the sides of my face?

"Ow, ow ow ow ow."

"You said that on purpose to make me angry just now, didn't you?"

...It seems my attempt to gloss over my embarrassment was completely obvious.

Rubbing my stinging cheeks, I said in a casual tone.

"Well then, shall we go home?"

"Yeah..."

Chinatsu nodded, but her legs didn't move easily.

Chinatsu looked at me and the ground alternately, then broached the subject timidly.

"Um... I'm sorry. For threatening you unilaterally on the day we first met."

What Chinatsu was apologizing for was that day she thrust a stun gun at my stomach.

"Blood rushed to my head at that time, but—I realized immediately that what I held up was an outrageous argument. But by then I couldn't turn back... and I ended up thinking it might be fine if I became a deterrent."

"What do you mean?"

"Because if I was hated by you, it would be hard for you to get close to the sisters."

I was surprised again by Chinatsu confessing with downcast eyes.

She's really thorough. To choose the safety of her sisters even by taking on the role of the hated one.

"I'm sorry."

"No, I'm the one who should be sorry. Since it's my fault to begin with, please raise your head."

Well, to trace it back to the source, it's Karin's fault, but.

I asked Chinatsu, who was slowly raising her face.

"Hey, Chinatsu. Was that talk just now to delay going home as much as possible?"

Chinatsu's shoulders stiffened with a jolt. Then, she let her eyes swim awkwardly.

"Th-There's a little bit of that too, but..."

Just when I thought she was being awfully meek, it's this. While almost bursting into laughter, I held out my hand toward Chinatsu.

"It'll surely be okay. If you're scared, want to hold hands?"

"...Having you act like a big brother over every little thing is annoying."

Chinatsu, saying something cheeky, walked ahead of me without taking my hand.

She seemed to have regained her energy in that manner, but as the house approached, she suddenly started fidgeting. She was busy fixing her messy bangs and touching her cheeks where tear tracks were stuck.

"I want to wash my face."

"Do it later. Structurally, it is impossible to stop by the washroom before the entryway."

"Ugh~," Chinatsu groaned regretfully, but when she stood in front of the entrance, she lightly slapped her cheeks and psyched herself up with all her might, saying "Alright...!"

Even if I recognize her as my little sister, Chinatsu is the big sister to the four of them. She probably didn't want to show her sisters a crying face.

Suu, haa, taking a deep breath, Chinatsu opened the front door.

On the step up to the hallway, Fuka and Sorane were sitting next to each other.

Of course, both of them noticed the door opening. Their eyes looking up without words were bloodshot, and although they were still sniffling, they had stopped crying properly. Mio, and perhaps Karin too, must have comforted them well.

Standing in front of those two, Chinatsu hesitated for a while, but...

"Um... Fuka, Sorane. I'm sorry for yelling earlier."

Good. That's the spirit.

Do your best, Chinatsu. Chinatsu, hang in there. Having completely adopted a big brother's perspective, I devoted myself to cheering for Chinatsu in my heart.

"I... I'm really happy that you two celebrated for me and even prepared presents. Very happy. So... will you let me redo the birthday party?"

Without waiting for her to finish speaking with an expression oozing unconcealable anxiety, Sorane and Fuka stood up and hugged Chinatsu's chest.

"B-Both of you?"

"Sorane is sorry too!"

"I'm sorry, Chinatsu-nechan. Sorry for worrying you!"

Fuka sounded tearful again.

Then, looking up at such a Fuka, Sorane gave a thumbs up.

"Yup! I forgive you!"

"...Why is the accomplice Sorane forgiving me?"

Fuka retorted in Shizuoka dialect. Before we knew it, we were all laughing.

Perhaps waiting for the conversation to wrap up, Mio and Natsuki-san came out of the living room at that timing. Mio relaxed her cheeks seeing us, but Natsuki-san had an unusually strict expression.

"Chinatsu."

Noticing Natsuki-san calling out in a hard voice, Fuka and Sorane separated from Chinatsu.

Natsuki-san, with vertical wrinkles carved between her eyebrows, looked alternately at Chinatsu and me. It was an atmosphere where we couldn't open our mouths with light feelings by any means.

"Rikuto-kun too, what happened to the injury on your head? Both of your uniforms are dirty too... First, get treated, and then I'll have you tell me what happened."

At those words, I remembered as if only now, 'Oh yeah, I was bleeding.'

Perhaps she had heard about our appearance from Mio and the others beforehand. Natsuki-san, the lawyer, had a sharp gaze and an aura of not yielding a single step. It was enough to make me brace myself for an interrogation harsher than the police, but Chinatsu tilted her head while touching the bruise on her cheek.

"Mom. I want to be treated, but... is it okay if we talk about the circumstances tomorrow?"

"...Eh?"

Natsuki-san was taken aback by the unexpected reply.

She probably never dreamed that Chinatsu would say something like that. I was just as surprised. Because I think the Chinatsu up until now would have acknowledged the correctness of Natsuki-san's words and obeyed.

Chinatsu gently patted the heads of Fuka and Sorane who remained standing by her side. Gazing at Natsuki-san again, she said with straight eyes.

"Because today is my birthday, right? We haven't done anything bad that we can't tell you Mom... so, is it okay if we talk after the birthday party is over?"

"Chinatsu..."

Natsuki-san mumbled. That expression was complex, looking angry yet happy, indescribable in a single word.

Surely, that was the first act of selfishness Chinatsu had ever voiced.

"Yakiniku—!"

Jumping in there without reading the room—or perhaps reading it—was Dad.

"Dad, you were back."

"Yeah, just now from Nagasaki. I bought a ton of meat, so we're going to celebrate Chinatsu-chan's birthday full throttle! That's right, until morning!"

"No, if we eat yakiniku until morning, we'll get fat."

Chinatsu replied calmly. "That's true too. Hahaha," laughed Dad in his usual tone.

"But, thank you for your thoughtfulness. ...Father."

It was a small voice, but from the eyes of Dad who seemed to have heard it clearly, a massive amount of tears overflowed.

"D-Did you hear that, Natsuki-san! Chinatsu-chan called me Father!"

"I'm sorry, Mukai-san. I'm not in a state for that right now...!"

Dad being overcome with emotion, and Natsuki-san covering her face and speaking with a trembling voice. The newlywed couple seemed busy being exposed to a torrent of emotions.

When the narrow entryway became suddenly noisy, Karin, popping her head out of the living room, said with half-open eyes.

"Or rather, doesn't something smell?"

Chinatsu and I exchanged glances. If something smells in this place, it would be us who fought a death match in an abandoned factory.

Chinatsu appealed embarrassedly.

"L-Let's change quickly. I'm hungry too."

"Right."

Thinking that somehow things really don't look cool to the end, I followed Chinatsu who was going up the stairs.

The reason I didn't enter my own room immediately was that I remembered there was something I hadn't said to Chinatsu yet.

"Happy Birthday, Chinatsu."

When I called out to her back running up to the upper floor, Chinatsu stopped, turned around, and narrowed her eyes.

"...Thanks."

At the very least, the distance between us having such a conversation was closer than yesterday.

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