Chapter 12: Because She Was Embarrassed, I Decided to Tease Her More

For a while after that, I couldn’t stop crying.

The tears kept falling, no matter how hard I tried.

Why?

Why did she call me that?

I desperately wanted to ask, but my voice was choked with sobs. My body went weak, and I slumped to the floor, knees drawn up.

"Nee-chan, are you really okay!?"

"……"

I looked up at Hoshiko and wordlessly shook my head. She let out a relieved sigh, as if she’d understood I wasn’t in any real trouble.

"M-Miss! Is everything all right!?"

…And just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, a concerned store clerk rushed over.

Of course they would.

A customer had suddenly burst into tears.

If I’d been a little kid throwing a tantrum, maybe it wouldn’t have been so strange. But a high schooler? No wonder they thought something was wrong.

"…Sniff… I-I’m fine…"

My face burned with humiliation—crying hard enough to draw staff attention was bad enough, but the ordeal wasn’t over.

With Hoshiko’s help, I managed to stand, only to realize every customer in the store was staring at us. Some looked puzzled, others curious. Wiping my tears, I forced out a shaky,

"S-Sorry for the disturbance!"

and bowed deeply.

The stares didn’t let up. We had no choice but to flee.

Now, we were at a café inside the department store. After escaping the clothing boutique, Hoshiko suggested we take a break, and I agreed immediately—my throat was parched.

"Luna-nee, feeling better?"

"…Yeah. Sorry for worrying you."

Maybe it was the shock of hearing my old name, but the apology came out surprisingly sincere.

…Not to toot my own horn, but that wasn’t like me at all.

"Wait… did you really hate being called ‘big bro’ that much? If so, I’m sorry… nee-chan."

"No! I didn’t hate it… I really didn’t."

I shook my head at Hoshiko’s dejected expression.

"I’m the one who should apologize. For always taking things out on you…"

I had no idea why Hoshiko had suddenly called me by that old name. It had never happened before.

It didn’t seem like she’d regained her memories, either—she seemed just as confused by her own words. Like they’d slipped out on their own.

But right now, I didn’t care.

Maybe I was being simple-minded, but hearing "Youta-nii" just once made it easier to accept "Luna-nee."

The fact that Hoshiko still remembered me, deep down…

Somehow, that alone made the clouds in my heart part.

"Let’s go look at clothes again after we rest. …Just, maybe a different store this time."

Hoshiko sipped her coffee—loaded with sugar and milk—as she spoke.

I didn’t know how she could drink that. I didn’t hate sweets, but I’d always preferred my coffee black. Even now, that hadn’t changed.

Still, something felt off.

"Why? I don’t mind going home now."

"No way! We have to get you new clothes!"

…She was being weirdly stubborn.

Sure, I’d said I wanted something new for the next time we hung out, but it wasn’t urgent. How often would a situation like before even happen again?

"…Hoshiko, are you plotting something?"

I narrowed my eyes slightly, probing for answers.

"Well, nee-chan… you have to make Haruto-san fall for you, right?"

"…What the hell are you talking about?"

The reply was so absurd I could only hold my head in my hands.

"Nee-chan… just between us, okay?"

"More nonsense?"

Hoshiko gestured for me to lean in. Like any of the other customers cared about us. What was this girl thinking?

I sighed and tilted my ear toward her across the table.

"…Haruto-san said he’s ready to take responsibility for you."

The whisper in my ear sent an itchy shiver down my spine. I almost laughed despite myself.

Strangely enough, ever since Haruto made me laugh that one time, smiling had become easier. Maybe that restaurant encounter had been the turning point.

If so, I ought to thank him—wait, no. Now wasn’t the time to get lost in thought.

What did she just say?

"Determination… responsibility? What the hell is he thinking?"

Haruto, taking responsibility for me?

I had no clue what that was supposed to mean. If anything, I was the one always relying on him.

Confusion twisted my face into a scowl.

"...Maybe he’s going to confess to you."

Another whisper, right against my ear.

—The jolt that ran through me wasn’t just from the ticklish sensation.

Haruto… confessing to me?

A confession would mean… he likes me, right?

Wait, was that what the bouquet was about?

No. That couldn’t be it.

If he’d meant it that way, he wouldn’t have laughed it off so easily.

That day, Haruto had smiled at me—genuinely, from the bottom of his heart.

"N-No way. Absolutely no way."

I mean, this is Haruto we’re talking about.

"Like"… as in, together?

—The thought brought back the dilemma I’d wrestled with before.

Even if we were best friends, we couldn’t stay together forever. We weren’t family. Eventually, we’d each have to walk our own paths.

But if we were lovers…

We could stay side by side.

We could even become family.

The image of the two of us, close like that—

Strangely, the idea didn’t repulse me.

I didn’t understand.

I was a guy. Had half a year as a girl really changed me this much?

Then again… if it was Haruto, the one person who saw me for who I really was… maybe it wouldn’t be so bad—

No.

This was just me twisting Hoshiko’s nonsense into wishful thinking. Haruto would never go for it.

Because I’m—

Lost in my thoughts, I barely registered Hoshiko continuing.

"I dunno… I’m sure Haruto-san likes you, nee-chan. The way he looks at you is so gentle."

"H-Hoshiko! Cut it out! Stop putting weird ideas in my head!"

I forgot we were in public and shot her down a little too loudly.

Once again, every head in the café turned toward us.

…Between the stares and the secondhand embarrassment, my face burned like I’d been dunked in boiling water.

—The very next day, Haruto texted me:

"Want to go to the amusement park this weekend?"