41 – Haruna’s Wind
Students have been flocking to the bulletin board in the central entrance since morning. I follow Yuu-kun, who turns towards him wondering what’s going on.
“This…… Aren’t you Eri’s sister?”
What was attached was a newspaper containing school news distributed by the Newspaper Club. I thought it was a follow-up article this time because I drew attention by making a special mention of the news of the soccer club throughout last week.
“……… Sister Eri.”
But it wasn’t.
It was an article that featured a photo of the 3rd grade captain who recorded a very low ranking in the middle of the competition record, which was getting lower day by day in the track and field department.
“Those bastards… Last week, he gave me a lot of praise for being a hero or something.”
Yuu-kun grumbled and frowned.
“Haru-chan. Let’s go.”
“Ah…… Huh.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. My sister will take care of it.”
“Yes…… That’s right.”
Come back to the classroom with Yuu-kun.
As for Eri, she was like the school’s idol, so she was always in the spotlight. Students would talk about her older sister with her jokes.
“Have you not been able to keep going this year?”
“What is prestigious athletics? Without winning a single medal.”
As soon as the classroom door was opened, the male students who had been making noise flinched and fled. Yuu-kun glared at him and was about to say something at any moment, but he stopped him and sat down.
When I looked around, Minsu’s seat was empty.
I heard that the after-party of the track and field team lasted until late yesterday.
He looked a little emaciated as he entered the classroom just before the bell struck.
There may be something troubling you.
He’s the track and field manager.
He may feel responsible for the poor performance of the track and field team.
That was a problem I couldn’t help.
Nevertheless, I wanted to be his strength.
If there’s anything I can do for you, I’d be happy to do it.
But I couldn’t do anything except listen.
Apart from cheering him on or comforting him.
***
When it was lunch time and we gathered on her rooftop, Eri-sister was not present.
She told Yuu-kun that she couldn’t participate because she was busy.
Recently, I rarely spent time with her older sister.
We never got together.
Me, Yuu-kun, and Eri’s older sister. And he got involved too.
It would be really fun if we could all spend time together.
“Minsu. Did you drink too much yesterday?”
“…… Uh?”
“Your face is pale. Are you a high school student?”
“It’s not like that. It’s just because the after-party for the track and field team got longer.”
Even when Yuu-kun jokingly talked to him, his reaction came back belatedly.
I want you to tell me if there is something difficult.
Minsu didn’t show off, and Eri couldn’t even see her face.
I followed him with my eyes as he left the classroom after school.
You must be busy.
I know that, but….
“…… One day.”
“Yes. Why Yuu-kun?”
“I can’t. Let’s all get together today.”
“Huh?”
“Sister Eri. Even if you don’t show it, you must be struggling on the inside.”
“……… ….”
“We haven’t gotten together recently. Let’s get together after a long time Let’s have a consolation party.”
Is that okay?
But she said she was busy.
“Let’s wait until practice is over and then meet and take him away. How is it?”
“…… Where?”
After thinking for a while, Yuu-kun said without thinking.
“My house?”
“Yuu-kun’s room… It’s not even organized. I hate it because it’s dirty.”
“What? You can do it, if you do it.”
Come to think of it, the three of us often got together and played together in the past.
There is no such thing these days.
“Then I’ll go back and clean it up. Bring me after you finish track and field practice.”
“…… I?”
“Yes. If you say no, bring it by force.”
“Eh… ….”
While talking nonsense, Yuu-kun was about to leave the classroom.
A thought came to my mind at the right moment and I raised my head and said.
“Now, wait… Yuu-kun.”
“Why?”
“That…… Can I bring Minsu?”
“Huh?”
Yuu-kun, who tilted his head, readily agreed.
“I’m sorry. Do whatever you feel like.”
“Yes…… Lol….”
“I’m sorry.”
Aghast, Yuu-kun goes home.
I was left alone and came down to the playground in time for practice.
I looked at the track and field members practicing from afar.
With Mori blowing the whistle… Other members.
Beside him was Minsu.
Eri’s older sister…….
“Ah……….”
I was stretching far away from them.
Somehow, the distance felt strange, so I looked at it for a long time.
Minsu, who was helping Mori measure the record, turned his head and approached Eri.
When Eri noticed Minsu approaching, she turned and moved her body.
It seemed to avoid Minsu.
“Fought…… Is it?”
His condition looked strange today.
My sister also had many things.
Maybe there was friction between the two of you at yesterday’s after party….
Then she understood why her sister didn’t come up for lunch today.
It is uncomfortable to see Minsu.
I don’t know why.
After yesterday’s competition, the atmosphere in the track and field department was not good.
Someone among the members had a fight. Or a conflict arose.
If that member were Eri and Minsu.
That wasn’t without reason.
“I don’t know what happened… ….”
I hope they reconcile.
I want to do it.
Because they are both my precious people.
Eri’s sister too. Minsu too.
Like they helped me.
I still wanted to be their strength.
Just today is a good opportunity.
If everyone comes together to resolve conflicts, reconcile, and get along better.
It would be nice if that were the case.
The track and field team practice is over.
Throughout the practice, Eri was moving her body away from her.
Obviously…… What must have happened
“Sister… !”
“Huh? Ah… One day.”
After her practice, she approached her sister as she returned and shook her hand.
“What happened? Could it be that you were waiting for me?”
“Yes… there’s that….”
I tell you what I asked everyone to gather in Yuuki’s room.
Because I used to spend time like that often in the past.
“……… So. Wait until I’m done practicing… I want to go with my sister.”
“Ah…… I see…….”
The older sister scratched the back of her neck with her head down and then looked down at me.
“Sorry. One day. I don’t think it will work today.”
“Ah… ….”
Yuu-kun said that if he was rejected, he would drag him by force.
There’s no way I could do something like that.
“Next time…. I’ve been waiting for you… Sorry.”
My sister put her hand on her head and lightly stroked it. She looked blankly at her older sister. I walked over to her back as she passed me waving her hand.
As Yuu-kun said, I didn’t mean to bring him by force.
Holding her tightly around her waist
“Sister!”
I shouted.
“What happened?!”
My older sister stood still and looked back at me.
“Haru-chan… what’s going on… ?”
From noble mtl dot com
That self-deprecating smile was not the usual older sister I know.
Now, it was as if something had been put on top of it, and it seemed like it was difficult even to keep one’s composure.
It’s the same as yesterday’s competition.
I had a hunch that something was definitely going on with her sister.
Then I want to help.
Because I have always relied on her sister.
I didn’t want to be a me who was always protected and only helped.
“I… I can tell! My sister is having a hard time right now… !”
“Haru-chan….”
“I… Just like her sister… I want to be your will….”
That’s something I’ve said before.
With Yuuki’s help, he was pushed back and said to Minsu.
It was clearly my sincerity.
I want to be a support for the people I care about. I didn’t want to be the me who only received help anymore.
“…… As for me… Couldn’t it?”
“……… ….”
The older sister who gently closed her eyes shook her head.
“Haru-chan. Nothing happened.”
“……… ….”
Stroking my crying head
“Just continue recently… It’s just that I wasn’t feeling well.”
“Sister… ….”
“But if Haru-chan goes this far… I can’t help it.”
Eri-sister smiled.
“Are you going?”
“Yes.”
Unbeknownst to me, I jumped in place and smiled.
My sister shook her head helplessly.
“It’s been a while since the three of us got together with Yuu-kun….”
Ah, come to think of it, I didn’t tell you. That Minsu is also invited.
“Looking forward to it. How messy Yuu-kun’s room must be.”
“Ehehehe… I left school to go and organize things first.”
But… Should I leave that as a surprise?
If the two really fought… My sister won’t interfere with this meeting.
That would be the same for Minsu.
“I wonder if you still have those magazines hidden under the bed.”
“Can’t you look around? Because Yuu-kun will be flustered and flustered again.”
He shook his head.
I didn’t like that kind of relationship.
If you really had a fight, I want to reconcile you.
I hope we can have a good time together.
I hope all the people I like can get along well. I was hoping