Chapter 31: The City Without Me
What is death?
The definition of death.
There's a saying that goes like this: the moment a human heart stops beating isn't necessarily when that individual truly "dies." Only when everyone has forgotten the existence of the departed, and all traces they left behind in this world vanish—only then can they truly be called [dead].
Existence — is an important criterion for determining death.
...
Nakano Nino watched Sakurai Saki's departing figure. In her mind echoed the image of their earlier argument, along with his icy gaze.
He...
…It was like he was looking at someone already dead.
...
At the shoe lockers on the first floor of the school building, Sakurai Saki was changing his shoes. Beside him, Shirogane Miyuki curiously asked:
"Oh right, about that misunderstanding Nakano had about you yesterday—have you thought it over? Will you forgive her? She even went out of her way to apologize to you this noon, but you didn't show her any sympathy…"
Apologize?
He didn't show her any sympathy?
While changing his shoes, Sakurai took out his phone and opened the chat history between him and Shirogane Miyuki to review.
The gist of it: Nakano Itsuki had misunderstood him, but thanks to the mediation of Nakano Miku and Yotsuba, they had managed to get through an unpleasant tutoring session together.
So that's why he decided not to continue tutoring today?
"Am I really that petty?" Sakurai began to reflect on himself.
He often reexamined his own actions—whether he had done something wrong.
Among those thoughts, the most important was: had he abused his supernatural power?
The supernatural power today was extremely dangerous—he absolutely must not use it carelessly on others.
As for himself yesterday… he might've been a bit hot-tempered?
"Nakano might be waiting for you in the library, Sakurai. Are you going?" Shirogane asked after finishing putting on his shoes.
"I already promised to have dinner at your house, so never mind." Sakurai Saki had complete faith in himself.
He believed every action he took was the result of careful thought.
Choosing not to meet her was a decision he had already made yesterday, and reaffirmed again at noon today!
The seventh rule in the 'Self-Restraint' Laws regarding supernatural powers: Don't dwell on the past—always look ahead.
What has been done does not need to be fixed. What he wanted to do at that moment was the truest expression of his heart.
'Hopefully the four Nakano sisters wouldn't be upset about being stood up… after all, they were the ones who were wrong first'. Shirogane Miyuki understood his best friend's behavior well.
Sakurai was the type of person who was very decisive. Once he made a decision, he wouldn't change easily.
Unless… someone crossed his final boundary.
Something must have happened that he didn't know about, but there was no need to ask—just let him deal with it on his own.
The two of them got on their bikes, preparing to return to the Shirogane house in Setagaya. If they had enough time, maybe they could prepare a grand dinner before Kei got home.
"Oh, I'll pay for dinner tonight. Can't let Kei-chan eat boiled vegetables every day just because she lives with you." Sakurai said.
Shirogane Miyuki pushed his bike, suddenly feeling like his position as older brother was being threatened.
Σ(°△° ꪱꪱꪱ)
…No, maybe not. Kei-chan had been his little sister for so many years, while this guy Sakurai hadn't even known her for a full year yet—how could their relationship be better than that of real siblings?
Shirogane comforted himself.
ᕙ( ᗒᗣᗕ )ᕗ
...
Second floor of the school building, in front of the classroom door.
Nakano Nino lifted her head, looking at the sunset outside the window.
Her four sisters had already gone to the library, saying they wanted to apologize to him...
Even Ichika wasn't absent—she had even given up her part-time job.
"In the end, I'm the only one left… like an idiot."
Staying here wouldn't help anything. She should just go to the library and find them.
Bracing her arms to stand up, Nino felt a wave of numbness in her legs—well, she had been sitting there for nearly an hour.
After taking a short rest, Nakano Nino adjusted the hair clip on her head, then started down the stairs.
Miku's probably forgiven her by now, right? After all, they were sisters.
Even if she was angry, a whole afternoon should've been enough to cool off.
Though what Nino did yesterday was indeed a little impulsive… she still didn't really want to apologize…
She'd just avoid him from now on.
If he didn't want to see her, then she didn't need to see him either. Nakano Nino thought as she changed from her indoor shoes to her outdoor ones.
After changing her shoes, Nino stepped out of the school building.
On the way to the library, she ran into an old friend—someone she used to chat and laugh with often in class last year. That person seemed to have just finished a club activity and was getting ready to leave school.
"Hyoudou-san!!!" Nino shouted, happily waving.
She wanted to share some recent funny stories with Hyoudou and toss all her worries aside!
If it was Hyoudou, she'd definitely understand. After all, they were good friends!
"..."
But the scene she imagined—the other person turning around and chatting happily—did not happen.
That person just kept walking, as if she hadn't heard the call at all.
"She left." Nino stood still, staring at the back of her old friend.
...Was their relationship not that close after all?
Well, it made sense… They weren't in the same class this year anymore, so it was normal to grow distant.
Strangers.
It was like they were strangers.
Nakano Nino felt a heaviness in her chest.
These past two days had been full of misfortune.
Dragging her heavy feet, she headed toward the library. Seeing the librarian still manning the desk, Nino wasn't in the mood for small talk—she just wanted to find her sisters as soon as possible.
Entering the study room, Nino heard her sisters' voices discussing something.
"…Sakurai-san didn't come… Could it be because I was too stupid yesterday and made him upset?" Nakano Yotsuba's voice rang out, filled with regret.
(•́ ᴖ •̀)
Hearing that, Nino frowned slightly.
You didn't do anything wrong, Yotsuba, so why are you belittling yourself?
"Anyway, we misunderstood him first, so it's understandable if he hates us." Nakano Itsuki said seriously. "I'll come back again tomorrow."
(๑•̀ㅁ•́๑)✧
Itsuki didn't do anything wrong either!
"Let's not tomorrow. I already rescheduled my shift to tomorrow. If Sensei-chan shows up, help me pass the message to him." Ichika chimed in.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
"Let's go." Miku put down the book "Strange Tales of the Sengoku Shoguns."
The more Nino listened, the more uncomfortable she felt.
In a situation like this, her sisters sounded like they were shouldering the consequences on her behalf!
It was unbearable!
"You guys! Why are you still waiting for him?! It's obvious he doesn't intend to come! Who are you apologizing to, huh!? If he doesn't want to come, then what are you still doing here!? Just go home already!?"
Faced with Nino's loud outburst, the four girls didn't react—they just quietly returned the books to the shelves.
"What should we eat tonight?" Ichika smiled as she asked the others.
"I want barbecue!" Yotsuba raised her hand cheerfully.
◝(ᵔᗜᵔ)◜
"Anything's fine." For Itsuki, any kind of food was welcome.
Miku said nothing.
Nakano Nino stood frozen in place, unsure whether she wanted to laugh or cry.
"Why are you pretending not to see me? Aren't we sisters?"
All four acted like she didn't even exist.
They clearly weren't strangers… We're family, aren't we?!
"Don't ignore me… okay…?" Nakano Nino stepped in front of Ichika.
She turned to the figure wearing headphones and shouted, "Miku!"
"Um…" Yotsuba suddenly spoke up.
"Sorry, classmate, you're in our way."
Hearing that, Nakano Nino felt her eyes burn.
She raised a hand to her nose, tears welling up and falling from the corners of her eyes.
Like a traveler dying of thirst in the desert, she placed all her hopes on this last oasis—
If it was Itsuki… surely she wouldn't pretend not to know her!
"Classmate, this is a public space. Please step aside." Nakano Itsuki gave a slight bow, exceedingly polite.
"…Haha~" Nakano Nino looked up, not knowing whether to cry or laugh in that moment.
Tears streamed down as she stood there, feeling pitiful and alone.
"You guys… Was this really necessary…? Just over something so small, you're going to ignore me? I was wrong… I'm sorry… I'll apologize to him, okay…" Nakano Nino sobbed as she wiped her tears. "So please… don't be cold to me anymore, okay…? I'm begging you… don't do this…"
Nakano Miku pushed her aside and turned to speak:
"Who are you? Are we even that close?"
In that moment, Nakano Nino felt like she had fallen into an icy abyss.
So cold…
...
Note: As I did before in previous fanfic, chapters with inappropriate emotions or simply nothing to add emojis to, I will limit