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???: ...-san.
???: Nii-san.
When I open my eyes I find Sayuki peering directly at me.
Reiji: Ugh...Sayuki?
Sayuki: Good morning.
Reiji: Morning. Still, it's unusual for you to come wake me up, Sayuki.
Sayuki: Nn...Because I want to go to school together with you today.
Reiji: I see. Well, than let's go together.
Sayuki: Nn...I already made breakfast.
Reiji: Ah, wonderful. I'll be out soon, just let me change.
Sayuki: Alright, than I'll go and head downstairs than.
After Sayuki leaves my room, I quickly get ready and hurry down to the living room.
Reiji: Good morning, Ichigo-san. Good morning, Sakura.
Ichigo: Good morning!
Sakura: Good morning, Reiji...
Sakura looks really tired, as she says that with her head slumped on the table.
Reiji: How unusual, everyone's here.
Sakura: *Yawn* ...I'm think today would be great to walk with Maota.
Ichigo: Oh, revenge huh? Do your best!
Reiji: Haha...Just don't be too rough on Maota alright?
Sakura: Eheehee, maybe he'll even come to love me today~ (Not a chance)
Ichigo: That's a wonderful idea! Even though he's an animal, I'm sure he'll come around thanks to how sincere and caring you are!
Sayuki: ...Here, Nii-san. Tea.
Reiji: Ah, thank you.
Good thinking on her part; I'm always thirsty when I first wake up.
I thought she looked a little odd earlier, but that must have been because I was still half-asleep as she looks like she always
does now.
Sakura: It's REALLY delicious! I'll eat yours if you don't hurry up, Reiji!
Reiji: Hey, keep it down when it's so early in the morning, Sakura. It's not a good thing to be so loud.
I can't help but admonish Sakura when she gets so excited over a small thing like ham and eggs.
Ichigo: Well, at least today the breakfast is lively, Reiji. Here, you can have mine.
Sakura: Ah, thank you! I love you, Sagara-san!
Sakura erupts into cheer thanks to her new best friend.
Reiji: You know you're only spoiling her right?
Sayuki: Nii-san, that's a little much...
Ichigo: Oh well, I don't really mind. I think I spoil you two enough as it is anyway~
Sakura: Thanks for the food~
Reiji: ...This girl really lives too freely...
Ichigo: *Laughs* When I see you guys, it reminds me of when I was young...
Ichigo-san smiles as her eyes look off into the past, remembering old times.
But, even though she is only smiling, I can sense something there...like she's tired.
Reiji: Is something wrong?
Ichigo: ...No, I was just amazed at you all.
Reiji: Please don't try to avoid the question.
As usual, I don't have a clue what she's thinking.
Sakura: Well than, I'm going for a walk~
Quickly polishing off her breakfast, Sakura runs out of the room and towards the direction of the backyard.
Sayuki: Nii-san, we can't afford to be late either.
Reiji: Hm? Oh, yeah! I'll finish right now.
Even though we still have some time, I panic and swiftly finish eating my breakfast at Sayuki's behest.
Reiji: Well than, we'll be going, Ichigo-san!
Ichigo: Umu. Take care you two.
Ichigo: Haa...
Ichigo: Everyone wants to defend their normal lives, but they never even think to talk with me.
Ichigo: Even I get worried about being lonely sometimes...
Ichigo: I have to hurry and find him. Before it's too late.
Sayuki: ...
Reiji: ...
The two of us are silent as we walk together to school.
Whenever I peek a glance at Sayuki, her expression and manner look normal.
However, there is a slight glimpse of frustration there.
Reiji: You didn't happen to get hardly any sleep last night, did you?
Sayuki: ...
Reiji: Sayuki?
Sayuki: ...I'm really disappointed.
Sayuki: At the end there, I really did it.
Sayuki murmurs that to herself.
Reiji: I see...
I guess that means that last night really was the first time that Sayuki has actually snuffed out a magi's existence.
Kajiura Umi no longer exists.
Even though she had been prepared to do it, it's still completely different when you actually kill someone like that, and I
think Sayuki is having a hard time coming to terms with just what it meant.
Certainly, I can restore any physical wounds someone suffers with Da Capo.
However, I can't restore EVERYTHING to normal.
I cannot heal the mental scars of Sayuki's that remind her that she had to kill one she considered a friend, if even for only
a short while.
Sayuki: Yes, I did it...In the end...I really did it.
*Squeeze*
Sayuki holds herself tightly there in the middle of the intersection.
Even though that deadpan expression is still normal for her...her face is pale, and her voice is slightly trembling.
That moment. Does this mean that the weight of the burden she now shoulders is too much for her?
Reiji: ...Sayuki.
Sayuki: (Gasp)
As gently as possible so as not to surprise her...I place my hand on her shoulder.
Reiji: I'll share the pain with you. If you need me, I'm here, Sayuki.
Sayuki: Nii-san...
Sayuki's face somewhat lightens.
Sayuki: ...Thank you. But, it's too late to turn back now.
Sayuki: I have to become stronger for your sake, Nii-san.
A bright light shines within her eyes.
Sayuki: I will protect you Nii-san...That's what I had already determined!
Her oath backed with an unshakable firmness resonates within my heart.
Reiji: ...I absolutely can't lose than.
To answer her oath, I say something to her that confirms that I will not disappear.
Sayuki: Nn...I'll never, ever be beaten.
By guaranteeing that we both exchange promises with each other, and more than anything else I feel happy.
Even if this war goes on and it comes down to just the two of us...
I...
Reiji: ...
Sayuki: Nii-san?
There's no reason to even think about it.
If it comes to that point, I'll voluntarily entrust my younger sister with the future and disappear.
I want her to be able to live happily with Ichigo-san and Sakura.
Ichigo-san and...Sakura.
Sakura?
Sakura: You and I are one, Reiji. Both in body and mind...So actually we're the same person you know?
That means that if I disappear...Than Sakura will disappear as well.
...At that time, could I really just deny Sakura's existence like that?
Sayuki: Nii-san!
Reiji: Ah, oh...Sorry, I was thinking about something.
My thought process is interrupted when Sayuki calls out to me with a raised voice.
Sayuki: Are you worried about something?
Reiji: Nah, it's no big deal. I was just wondering what to have for lunch today.
Sayuki: Really?
Gripping the tail of my shirt, Sayuki's face looks like that of a girl who isn't at peace.
Reiji: Really. There's nothing for you to be worried about.
Sayuki: ...But, it felt like you were going somewhere far away just now, Nii-san.
Reiji: Dummy.
Sayuki: Ah!
I reprimand her gently by poking her on the head.
Reiji: There's no way that I'm going off somewhere and leaving you behind.
Reiji: I told you that we'd be together forever, didn't I?
Sayuki: Nn...But still-
Sayuki: If you're going to shoulder half of my burdens, you can share yours with me. Don't trouble yourself by trying to take
it all on by yourself.
Reiji: Hey, that's what I said earlier. You look to be completely different from earlier when all you could do was look down.
Sayuki: Jeez...It's because you said something like that to me earlier, Nii-san.
Sayuki turns away and pouts, her face a little red.
It looks like she's finally returning to normal.
As I continue talking with Sayuki, I begin to wonder if there is a correct answer to my unanswered query, and think *** it.