With the night sky fast approaching-
"Hahh..."
So this is how it is, huh?
I never got anything out of that man, but what I do know is that he wasn't lying when he said that Reina left. I'd like to think that there's a possibility that she'd return there and I can catch her when she does, but that's just wishful thinking at best. Reina probably wanted out of that place, so when she found people to take her in...
"..."
Even still... Where does that leave me? For all I know she could be out of the city now. He mentioned a car so I guess I shouldn't jump to conclusions like that, but that does open up the possibilities even more of where she might be... Which leaves me carrying myself back to my apartment.
My legs feel so heavy, my vision is getting cloudy at times, but I continue to push onward, forcing every step I take, trying to keep my body going.
Eventually, I find on the second floor of the apartment building, right outside my door. With my body finally stopped moving, it feels like gravity will take hold of me any second, so I quickly knock on the door. I left my key with Mei, so I hope they're still here.
"Oh?! Lu-na?"
The moment the door opened, I fell straight into the arms of the person in front of me. Judging from how soft they are, I'm guessing this is Mei?
"Luna!"
That voice...
"Bro..."
My brother rushes over to me as Mei tries to keep me on my feet. I feel sorry putting my weight on her like this, but I can't help but cling onto her like this as I look over to my brother.
"Luna. What happ-"
"I can't..."
"Huh?"
"I can't... do this anymore."
It feels like everything is flooding over me now that I'm finally home. My vision now completely clouded over by overflowing amount of tears that I can't even make out my brother's or even Mei's face.
"Hey hey, it's alright. You're safe here, okay?"
She thinks that I'm talking about me living with that man?
"Let's move to the couch, okay?"
With the two of them practically carrying me, Mei and I sit on the couch, with my brother grabbing a few glasses for us. But now that I'm sitting down, my emotions mellow out; if only a little.
"What happened?"
"It's Reina. She's... gone."
"G-gone?! Luna-!"
"N-not like that. It's just... she's no longer there..."
I quickly settle down my brother's rage. With how I worded it, I guess I don't blame him.
"She was right there-"
Clutching my hands, I try to remember the feeling of that blanket, the smell of my sister...
"But I just..."
My tears come back with full force as Mei quickly wraps an arm around me, trying to console me, but that doesn't help with these tears.
"Hey... Take your time, alright? We're not going anywhere."
Hearing Mei's words put me at ease somewhat as I once again cling to her, but I can't shake away this feeling of defeat.
"...Right! Then I'll take it from here."
"...Eh?"
Hearing my brother's words however, pulls me back to reality as I look up at him.
"You managed to pinpoint where she was. That's amazing as is, sis. But I can't let you continue alone like this."
"B-but... What about-"
"Work? Heh. I'll sort something out. I can't just leave after seeing you like this."
He bends down on his knees, bringing his face close before putting a hand on top of my head. Just that alone stops my tears dead in it's tracks.
"I'll try and land a full-time placement at your school. I'm not sure how long it'll take, but if you're serious that Reina is here, then I won't let her slip away. We'll find her. I promise."
He says as he gently ruffles my hair. Seeing the smile on his face washes away any tears left behind, as if his smile alone was evaporating them.
"But... she could've left the city too..."
"What do you mean?"
So, I end up telling them everything I learned while I was staying with that man, everything about the blanket, to the box of things, to how she was looking for a job, and how now she's currently with two people, supposedly a man and woman.
"Hmm. Well if they have a car, then wouldn't it be more likely that they're in this city?"
"Right. It's quite a big city, but I doubt that many people travel with cars to any neighbouring cities. It's why we have trains for that kind of thing."
Hearing my brother and Mei talk about this with me is quite calming, but-
"That doesn't fully eliminate that possibility though."
"I guess... But you said that your sister left that apartment a little while ago, right?"
"Nn."
"Then we can probably rule it out. If those people were from another city or town, they probably wouldn't want to drive in the dark, especially with how cold it's getting. Won't be long until the roads become caked in ice."
Mei makes sense. I guess it would be dangerous around this time of year. After thinking about it for a few more moments, I feel like a bit of weight has finally lifted away from my chest.
"I agree. Let's go with the assumption that Reina is still in the city. Ah, sis. Do you still have Reina's phone?"
"Uh... No, I left it back in that box."
"Damn... I was wondering if we could maybe get grandma's help."
"Oh, I saved grandma's contact on my phone, so-"
"Then could you send it to me?"
"Nn."
"Wait! Then couldn't you just call your sister's phone?"
Mei raises a good point, and seeing my brother's eyes light up from it only makes it hurt even more.
"During the walk back, I tried to call Reina's phone after hearing everything from that man, but the call couldn't connect at all. I doubt her phone ran out of battery, but then again it wasn't on charge for that long..."
"You think she might've turned it off?"
"...I don't know."
I'm not even sure how grandma could help either. From what I heard, she didn't even know exactly as to where Reina was, but if my brother thinks that she can help, then I have to try.
"Phew~ This is getting quite serious, aha."
"Heh. You know you can still back out if you like."
"Ehh~ Like I would do that."
True... technically, Mei is an outsider. She doesn't need to help, but here she is... Holding me by the hand. It's something usually small, but it really does help. It's like she's keeping me grounded, right here with her and my brother, making sure I won't float away. It's... comforting.
"Well you better not. Luna's taken quite a liking to you."
"Oh~ Hehehe. Is that right, Luna?"
"Nn..."
"See?"
"Fufu. Then I'm glad to have my soon to be sister-in-law's blessing."
"Okay now you're pushing it."
"Tch- fine~ Pfft."
Despite my brother trying to shake Mei away, it's clear to me how much he likes her. He can't even look her in the eyes when he said that. It makes me curious...
"...I don't mind."
"Huh? S-sis-?"
"I don't mind if you two get married."
""What?!""
This time, both of them look at me with bewildered expressions before turning back to face one another.
"M-M-Marriage is- jumping too far ahead, right?"
"Of course! Luna, don't say such crazy things."
"Pfft. Fine~"
I mimic how Mei was acting just before, which seems to have brought the lively atmosphere back into the apartment.
"...I was being serious though."
""Luna!!!""
"Hehe."
Yeah... I'm glad I came back here. I felt like I've already recharged myself quite a lot with just this. And with my brother now saying that he'll try and get a proper job at my school, I'm sure that things will start to turn around. I was wondering if I had the energy for tomorrow to look around for Reina with Midori, but now I'm not too worried.
Just then, the bell to my apartment rings-
"Ah, right. We ordered food. Did you want some?"
"Nn."
"Hehe. Then I guess we can have your tikka masala tomorrow?"
"Yes. I think I can manage that."
I won't be out too late with Midori anyways, so I should make it back here in time to cook dinner. It is the last day for my brother anyways. I'm not sure how long he'll be gone, but I hope he can make it back quickly and get that permanent job at my school. I'm sure Mei would love that.
After dinner, both my brother and Mei left now that I'll be staying here, although Mei was a bit hesitant in doing so, probably because of that whole incident earlier with me crying on her.
Moving into the bathroom, I finally brush my hair with my hairbrush. After using that stupid little comb in that man's apartment, this honestly feels like heaven in comparison, and that's not even including the shower itself. So after tidying up my hair, I finally give myself a proper wash.
Every time I have a shower, I feel all the weight of my hair increase tenfold, but it's a price I have to pay. There's no way I'm cutting my hair... Not with all the memories that are stored inside them. I wonder if Reina also thinks the same?
"Haah~"
What I'd do to just brush her hair once more. But of course, I failed to catch up to her before she left. But it's okay, it's not over yet. After talking with my brother and Mei, I'm feeling a lot better with the search. I still fear that there's a slight chance that Reina is actually living in a different city or town, but I know that it's unlikely. I'll just need to find her quick before something like that happens...
In a different shower-
"Mmmm~"
I'll never get used to a shower like this. Sure I couldn't shower while living in that man's apartment, but even when I was living at my grandparents, our shower was quite weak with very little pressure. Sometimes I just preferred to use a bucket to wash myself in just to save my grandparents' money. So to be able to use such a fancy shower in comparison is quite an experience.
"Sis..."
I wonder if she also has a shower like this? I almost feel bad if that's not that case. But I guess she could also be living in a place like this as well so maybe I'm just being silly.
"I hope you're doing okay..."
Grabbing hold of a part of my hair that was resting just past my waist, I gently squeeze the strands in between my fingers. You'd always play with my hair like this when we slept, well of course I did the same, it was to make sure that we both remained strong, being able withstand all the bullying. Just thinking about those times makes my heart tighten, and it's because of those memories that I'll never cut my hair.
"Hah..."
But really all I want is to see sis... I feel like I've connected quite well with Anna now, but that only makes this feeling worse. Like how am I meeting all these new people? Why can't I just stumble into sis like this? I mean, sure she's probably busy with school, but still...
After finishing my shower, I make my way downstairs to grab myself a drink to cool off.
"Ah- Reina~ Would you like some cake?"
That's when I bump into Kanon's mother. Looking around, it looks as though she's all alone in the kitchen and there doesn't seem to be anyone in the lounge either.
"N-no thank you."
"Really? Aw~ I was hoping we could chat for a bit."
Oh. So the cake was just a pretext to chatting?
"Hehe. Well I'm sure I can have a bit then."
"Mm!"
I take my seat at the dining table with her as she hands me a small plate of cake.
"Eh?"
But that's when I notice that this cake isn't from the menu at the café...
"Surprised? It's my own special recipe."
"Th-thank you."
And so, we begin eating our cake.
"So. How are you liking it here?"
"It's great. I sometimes feel that it's wrong for me to indulge myself like this."
"Fufu. Well never mind that. Kanon said it was okay, so I have no problems with it. So don't feel bad about being here."
I feel like Kanon holds the most power here for some reason. Or it could just be that her parents trust her judgment a lot, probably more than their own.
"Okay."
"However there is one, 'small' issue."
"Huh?"
"It's about school."
Hearing that word immediately brings Yume to mind. Honestly, at this point, I do miss being there, mainly 'cause I want to reconnect with Yume properly, and not just ignore her like I have been.
"My husband and my daughter might be fine with it, but I can't stand pulling you out of school to work full-time at the café."
I wonder if Anna had to deal with the conversation I'm having now? It makes sense, but-
"Actually, I'm currently not enrolled at a school."
"What?"
"Well, I was, but my previous school is far from here. I only moved here somewhat recently."
"Then do you know if you'll be attending a school here by any chance?"
"...Probably not."
After saying that, I lock my eyes back on the cake before taking another bite. I find it difficult keeping eye contact with her like this. It's embarrassing.
"Hmmm, then how about I take you to a school tomorrow?"
"...Huh?"
"I can't just let things go on like this, so I'd like you to attend school. I won't let my husband and daughter have you, hehe."
"Wait-! But... Isn't that expensive?"
"Ah~ It's fine. I heard you and Anna having fun upstairs, so I thought maybe you two could go to the same school? Pretty good idea, right?"
Did she seriously just think up that idea on the spot the moment she heard I wasn't going to school? Wait, also she heard Anna and I?
"But isn't it too late?"
"Hmm. I guess the end of year exams have finished. But don't you think that's perfect timing? You won't be thrown straight into exams, hehe."
"I… I guess..."
"Then it's settled. You're coming with me, alright? I'll let Kanon know in the morning."
"Eh? But-"
"Have a goodnight~"
And just like that, she leaves the dining room with an empty plate. Just how fast did she eat? She had a bigger slice than me and I'm only half done with mine. Wait, but am I seriously going to school tomorrow with her?
"..."
I finish the cake whilst thinking things over. Kanon said she wanted me to help out, but now I'm going against that to go with her mom? She did say that she'll let Kanon know, but is it really okay? I guess it's not like I'm starting school, maybe I'm just going there to check it out? Wait, but doesn't Kanon's mother run an animal shelter? Is it really okay for me to take her away from that? Maybe she has other people there that work under her, so maybe it's alright.
"Haah~"
Leaning back in the chair after finishing the cake, I stare up into the ceiling.
"I have to do my best..."
If she wants me to attend school, and to keep Anna company, then I'll make sure to exceed their expectations. I don't want to be a burden with this family after everything that has happened. I'll also make sure to at least work part-time after school at the café to help out. Ah- but that's if I'll still be allowed to. Anna isn't allowed to, so maybe it might be better to convince them to bring Anna along? Kanon said that she'd like to bring her sister back into the business so I hope that's the case.
"School..."
However, the idea of school is a bit scary. I'll only know Anna and we'll be in different years, that's if I actually get into the same school. But knowing my grades, I think I can manage that. But that still leaves me having to meet new people, a new class. I wonder how the other students will see me as? In my previous school with Yume, I didn't have too much issues, but with how many people are in this city... I'm sure that it's going to be worse.
"...Hahh~"
Well, it could be worse I suppose. I'll just try my best.