Chapter 10: 10

A small clink of glasses was made to imitate a toast. It felt a little awkward because the content was just orange juice.

“Then again… –Happy birthday, Chidori!”

“Happy seventeenth birthday to you too, Tsugumi. Fufu, I am kind of embarrassed.”

“It’s fine. It’s nice to celebrate like this once a year.”

“That’s right. –Then, let’s have supper.”

With that said, Shizuku and Chidori smiled at each other.

Various things happened, but being able to laugh with Chidori this way was the happiest thing for him.

“It’s been a while since I’ve eaten crab. Wasn’t it expensive?”

“It was on sale and cheap. Don’t worry, it’s not over our budget.”

After returning from what seemed to be a date with Bell, Tsugumi cooked more elaborate dishes with Chidori, who returned from club activities. She was surprised by the souvenirs he took out but managed to be convinced when he told her he bought them at a department store in the station building. It was a bit of a close call.

“The disaster of ten years ago seemed so long ago now.”

Chidori suddenly muttered.

–Ten years ago, an unprecedented biological disaster, caused by a Demonic Beast that is said to be beyond the level of Class A, resulted in the disappearance of an entire city. On that day, when a city with a population of 30,000 people was instantly reduced to rubble, Tsugumi and Chidori lost everything but each other.

They lost their memories, could not remember where they lived, their parents or relatives, and the only thing they could remember were their first names.

–But he could still remember that day when they ran through the sea of fire together as if it were yesterday. That was Tsugumi’s earliest memory.

“Ten years went by so fast. When I was a kid, I used to wonder every day what would happen to me, but now I’m doing okay, and that’s good. I still dread to think what would have happened if Jiisama hadn’t taken us in.”

“That’s right. We have to thank Yozuru-jiisama for taking care of us.”

Yozuru was an elderly man of extraordinary wealth who took in Tsugumi ten years ago and adopted them.

The old man had lost all of his blood relatives during the turmoil thirty years earlier and still lived in seclusion in the mountains, but they met in the shelter ten years ago and on a whim, he took them in. He gave them a house to live in and even paid their living expenses and school fees.

At first, Tsugumi was a bit skeptical of his generosity, but now he’d gotten used to it and was grateful for his goodwill.

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“I’d like to repay him someday, but I wonder if he will let me… That person doesn’t seem to have any money problems, and he hates people, so he won’t let me take care of him, will he?

Sometimes when I see him, he leaves after a few minutes, and I’m sure he doesn’t hate me, but he’s a little difficult, so I don’t know what to do with him…”

Chidori let out a sigh with a pensive look on her face.

Yozuru went to see them once a year at this house, but they were basically not allowed to go see him from here. In the first place, Tsugumi didn’t even know where Yozuru lived.

The distance between them was a little too big to be called “family”. Both physically and mentally. He really was a mysterious person.

“Come to think of it, do you remember your old memories?”

“…Why do you ask that?”

Tsugumi only asked the question vaguely, but for some reason, Chidori asked back in a slightly stilted voice. The unexpected response made him a little confused.

“No, it’s just a feeling I have. It’s been ten years, and it wouldn’t be surprising if we remembered some things, would it?”

“I’m afraid I can’t remember anything. Do you remember anything, Tsugumi?”

Chidori asked with a serious look on her face. Tsugumi was a bit annoyed by this, but opened his mouth.

“I can’t think of anything in particular, either. I’m sorry… Did I perhaps remind you of something you don’t like?”

Perhaps Chidori had a different view of the past than Tsugumi. While he himself didn’t care about his parents or his memories of the past, Chidori was kind and probably feel guilty about not being able to remember them.

A family was supposed to be very important. Just as Chidori was to Tsugumi, she probably cared about her parents, whom they couldn’t remember.

“No, I’m just a little sentimental. –Yes, let’s get back on track and exchange gifts, shall we? You made sure you got me one, didn’t you?”

“Oh, um. Of course.”

Chidori cut off with a cheerful voice. It made him wonder, but maybe she just didn’t want to talk about something so dark.

Thinking this, Tsugumi reflected on the strange subject he had broached. It probably wasn’t the right conversation to have on a day of celebration.

“Here’s one from me. A notebook and an alarm clock. You know how often you’re late and forget things, don’t you? Use this to take care of yourself from now on, okay?”

“Haha, I’ll do my best… But thank you. I’ll use it carefully.”

His alarm broke just the other day, so the timing was perfect. The notebook would surely help him keep track of his schedule as a Magical Girl from now on.

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With this in mind, first of all, he presented the ticket that Yukitaka had given him in front of Chidori.

“What’s this?”

“A gift from Yukitaka. It’s a ticket for a women-only trip to a hot spring, so you should invite a friend to go with you. –Here’s one from me. Try opening it.”

Saying this, Tsugumi took out a beautifully wrapped box.

It was a masterpiece that he had worked so hard on yesterday while being ridiculed by Bell as “bad shit”. He knew the wrapping would be ripped off soon, but if she was pleased with it, that would be fine.

“Onsen trip! I wonder if it’s ok to get something so expensive… As for Tsugumi, oh my, it’s kind of cute.”

With dexterous hands, Chidori peeled off the wrapping paper without tearing it. Her eyes widened when she saw what was inside.

“Andersen’s fairy tales collection… It’s in Danish, too, isn’t it? I can’t believe I’m getting a text that’s as close to the original as I can get!”

Chidori gazed at the book with sparkling eyes.

–During the turmoil and disasters of 30 years ago, most of the libraries and other facilities were burnt to the ground and disappeared. There might still be some books left in the national collection, but they were not something that ordinary citizens could look at easily.

In addition, the Japanese people’s impression of foreign countries was at its worst due to the country’s isolation. Books written in foreign languages, not to mention books burned in Japan, were rare and hard to come by. That’s why it wasn’t easy to collect foreign books.

With trembling hands, Chidori hugged the book tightly. If she was that happy, all the hard work was worth it.

“I’m glad you liked it.”

Involuntarily, the words stopped.

–In front of his eyes, Chidori was crying with ragged tears・・・・

“Hey, you don’t have to cry about anything. It’s not like it’s a first edition original book, and the value itself isn’t that great, you know?”

Tsugumi was upset and gently offered a tissue. He hadn’t seen Chidori cry in years. It would be strange not to be upset.

“No. I’m just happy that Tsugumi remembers what I like… Thank you so much.”

And Chidori laughed beautifully while crying.

–That face overlapped with someone else’s. He had a feeling that someone had laughed like this before. But now he didn’t care about that.

“I am glad you’re happy. I’ll put away the dishes, so go cool your eyes. It wouldn’t do you any good if it swelled up, would it?”

“…Yeah. I’m sorry, I cried like a child. Is it okay if I go back to my room first? I still can’t stop crying…”

I’m sorry. It’s embarrassing, isn’t it? Chidori wiped her tears. It didn’t bother him, but even though they were siblings, Chidori wouldn’t like to be seen crying forever. Thinking so, he sent her on her way.

–Oh, I’m so glad you’re happy.

Thinking so, Tsugumi laughed with satisfaction.

◆◆◆

Chidori closed the door behind her and covered her face with her hands. A drop of clear water trickled from between her fingers.

–I am so happy. I am very, very happy. That made Chidori feel・・・・・・・・・・bitter.

Chidori sometimes wondered if she should be living so happily. Living with her younger brother Tsugumi, cuddling up to him. It was so sweet – and yet so sinful…

She stood up unsteadily and opened a drawer in her desk. There was a small wooden photo frame. She took out the picture and gently stroked the surface of the picture.

“I’m sorry.”

Then Chidori said with a sorrowful expression.

“I’m sorry,–Sakura-oneechan・・・・・・・・.”

Tears soaked into her hands.

–The picture showed two people.

One of them was a young Tsugumi, about five years old, and the other was a middle-school girl with a face similar to that of Tsugumi, smiling as they snuggle up together. On the back of the photo was written.

“With my beloved brother, Tsugumi. Sakura.”

–Tsugumi didn’t know.

–He didn’t know anything.

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