chapter 22

Hinatchan is anyone having a birthday today?

I admit that I overdid it.

Were currently looking at a whole cake, adorned with whipped cream and fruits. Its beautifully decorated, and Im personally satisfied with the result. Aah, but, thats not the point.

I think we were talking about making some simple sweets since itd be a waste to do nothing while waiting them, right?

I got carried away by mistake.

Rumi and I have been waiting for Hiori and Tsubaki to return home, but theyre getting quite late. So, I tried contacting them by an email, and it seems that theyll be taking their time. In the end, I borrowed the kitchen to make something that wouldnt be too time-consuming. I had planned to bake cookies at first, but the moment I reached the kitchen, I got too excited when I saw the cookwares that I dont have at home. As a result, I ended up making a cake by accident.

Its amazing how you can make something this grand without meaning to

Well~ youre making me blush.

Be that as it may, Ive used their ingredients without asking. I need to apologize to Hiori later. Rumi will most likely tell me that its okay, but using someone elses stuff without permission is still a bad thing to do. Im reflecting on it. I shouldve asked when I was sending the email earlier.

Still, theyre late.

While Im was.h.i.+ng the cooking utensils and cleaning up, Rumi looks at the clock and mutters in worry. Now that she mentions it, I think its been more than an hour since they replied.

It seems its been a really long time since they last went shopping together, so I guess they want to take it slow.

I think youre right.

When I imagine the sight of them shopping happily, I end up smiling. Its still early for dinner anyway, so we should be waiting for them patiently. After I finish cleaning up, I put the cake in the fridge and return to sit in the living room. A short while later, Rumi comes to sit in front of me. But, for some reason, shes staring at me. Uh, um? What is it?

Is there something on my face?

Maybe there is cream stuck on my face when I was making the cake, so I try wiping it off with my hand. I was stirring it with my strength, so some of the fresh cream might have taken flight.

Ah, thats not it. Umm, its just, you know, that, I think you have a cute face.

Haa.

I have no idea how to react to that, so Im not sure what to say. Thank you very much! will sound as if Im agreeing with her statement. But if I say Thats not true!, it might just come out unpleasant. But, there are no girls who arent happy to be told that shes cute, of course, me included. Although, hearing that from my little sister gives me mixed feelings.

anyway! Was Tsubaki-chan the one who invited you for dinner today?

Aah, yes. After getting forsaken by my family, Tsubaki was the kind person who beckoned me for dinner.

I-I see.

Hurrah for a full-course Chinese meal!, I laugh in derision as I remember how my family shouted that. Rumis smile clamps up a bit when she sees me like that.

Im sure Mother and my sister are currently laughing merrily at a Chinese restaurant, spinning the rotating table in high speed. I dont really like Chinese food anyway, and I dont feel dejected at all because they didnt bring me with them, you know? Besides, whats the big deal with an elite full-course Chinese dinner! Just because its expensive, it doesnt mean that its guaranteed to be delicious, okay?!

Say, Hinatchan, are you going out with anyone?

Here it comes, the question that always comes out of nowhere. Girls like to talk about this topic a lot. Well, Im also a young girl in the peak of my adolescence, though. At least my appearance is.

No, Im not. I prefer hanging out with my friends, and I dont really understand about love yet.

Hmm I see~

What about you, Rumi-san? Are you going out with anyone?

Theres no way such a beautiful and mature woman would remain single.

Nope.

Mhm, its impossible for anyone to leave a beauty like Rumi-san alone wait, what?! Youre kidding!

Regrettably, Im not.

But, there must be someone in the past at least

Nope.

You . are . lying!

I-its the truth.

What the h.e.l.l? Is everyone in this town blind? Or, is Rumis ideal too high? Wait, could it be that shes not that interested to have a relations.h.i.+p like me?! Rumi looks at me acting strangely from my surprise, and she giggles. Hey, this is not the time to laugh.

In the past, I was focusing to achieve my dream. And now, Im too busy with work to think about love and such.

W-while youre saying that to yourself, youre going to miss your marriageable age!!

Uuh, my parents have been telling me the same thing, although not directly.

But, Im not really interested, you know she says without concern. Aah, I knew it, that part of her is just like me. Im not really one to say, but Im a bit no, Im very worried about her.

Thats it. Rumi-san, please let me have a look at your palm.

Eh? Sure

She looks puzzled as she shows her palm to me. Then, I stare at it intensely like Im trying to drill a hole in it.

What are you doing?

Im reading your palm. There was a time when I admired and studied fortune telling.

Wow, thats amazing!

Rumi looks at me with her sparkling eyes, which makes me feel guilty. Its a downright lie.

Lets see. Oh, Rumi-san, it says that youre clumsy.

Its possible to know that with a palm reading?

The art of chiromancy has been progressing with the modern times.

Eeh

Her face tells me that she finds it unbelievable. Hmm, I guess that was a lame excuse. If anyone tells me that, I wont believe it, either. Well, whatever, it doesnt really matter. Im lying to her anyway.

Rumi-sans favorite color is orange.

Ah, amazing! Youre right!!

You were born during winter, your blood type is A, and you like cats.

Wow, palm reading is amazing Everything is spot-on.

Itd be terrifying if a fortune telling can do that. Its a breach of privacy. Naturally, I know about all that about Rumi because I was her big sister.

Excuse me for a bit.

I lightly grip her wrist with one hand and make her palm overlap my other palm. My hand is slightly smaller than Rumis.

So, what can you tell with that?

hm? Nothing.

eh?

Its just that, its grown big.

Her small hand has grown bigger, and prettier than mine.

I move my finger on top of her palm to write a few characters. I slowly, and carefully write it so that it will get conveyed to her. Rumi stays still as she tries to guess what Im writing on her palm.

Ive finished.

After writing the characters, I let go of her hand.

[Happiness]?

Thats correct.

Even though she could guess that much, she doesnt get what it means. She tilts her head and slants her eyebrows in confusion.

Rumi-san, are you happy?

I can hear a gasp from her. After taking a while to think, shes barely able to put her answer in words.

I wonder Maybe, Im happy I think.

I see. By the way, what I did just now is a good luck charm that was popular in the past. Its said to bring you happiness.

Ah I know that.

Im the one who taught Rumi about this charm. When she was upset and crying, I told her, If you write your wish on your palm and swallow it, it will come true. Although, its originally a charm to dispel nervousness by [writing person on the palm and swallow it], but I went and revised it a bit.

You need to swallow it, or your wish wont be fulfilled.

Mm.

So, go ahead and swallow it.

Well, she doesnt need to actually swallow it literally, only pretend like she does. But, Rumi just stares at her palm, unmoving. Its nothing but a good luck charm, so its not going to fulfill her wish just like that. Its just a self-suggestion.

But, if shes hesitating to swallow the happiness, it means that she lacks the intent to be happy.

I

Oh, well.

Hinatachan?

I seize her hand and forcefully push it against her mouth.

Gah?!

And, the charm is complete! With this, Rumi-san is going to be happier.

I smile at Rumi, who is overcome with surprise.

Please, make lots and lots of happiness.

Rumi was more of a crybaby and spoiled compared to the others. But when I died, Im sure thats when she started to hide the spoiled and weak side of her. Being able to stand up on her own feet may be a good thing, but thats not the end of it. She needs to have someone else she can rely on, without having to reserve herself.

Its okay for her to be spoiled. Shes been working so hard, but itd be meaningless if she isnt happy. If she herself doesnt wish for happiness, shell never be able to feel happy.

hh

Still in a daze, tears start to form in the corners of her eyes. But, she doesnt wipe her flowing tears, and she doesnt avert her eyes from me. Instead, she keeps looking towards me as she weeps in silence.

Are you all right?

After a while, she raises her downcast face.

Mhm sorry, and thank you. Somehow, that makes me feel refreshed.

She wipes her tears away and shows a refreshed smile, so I smile at her in return. Its like shes been freed by an invisible shackle, as her face looks quite cheerful.

Wow, I wonder if I actually have a talent for fortune telling.

Im asking in jest, but contrary to my expectations, Rumi nods with a serious face.

I believe that you do have the talent, Hinatchan. Its possible that you will bring happiness to many people.

Ahaha, thats not true. Although, I will consider being a fortune teller as one of choices for my future career.

But in truth, I dont think I have that kind of talent at all. If I have to say, maybe its the talent to do fortune telling fraud instead. Besides, I dont have the ability to grant happiness to many people. I dont even have the power to make the people around me happy.

Hinatchan, have you decided on your future career?

No, not in particular

I didnt have any dreams that I wanted to achieve during my past life. I recall writing the name of the local university when I submitted my career counseling form at that time. And, I havent considered about the future of my present life seriously, either.

Youre just starting high school at the moment. So, I guess you havent decided on anything.

Yes

You may still have time ahead of you, but its better to start thinking about it, you know? Especially when its about your future.

Her tone is gentle, yet earnest, as she remonstrates me.

Oh youre just like a teacher.

Thats because Im one.

When I give her a respectful gaze, she makes a wry smile.

Hmm

I think Rumis right, I should start thinking about my future from now. Because, there is no way to redo my life. But still, what kind of job do I want? Going on a safe route as an office lady? It does have a high rate of employment.

How about a pastry chef? After all, Hinatchan likes confections, not to mention that youre good at making it.

Hm, but thats only a hobby.

I believe itd be wonderful if you can turn your hobby into an occupation. Naturally, you will run into many hards.h.i.+ps along the way.

I will consider it.

I still have a future ahead of me. My life as Sekiguchi Tsubaki had ended, but as Hayase Hinata, I still have more to come. Time is finite, so I decide to think about it more carefully from now on. Nevertheless, being able to talk about my future like this makes me so happy.

Fufu

W-what is it? Its cruel of you to laugh after looking at someone elses face like that.

Sorry about that. Its because Hinatchan really resembles Nee-san.

Eh?

Its not your appearance, but there are many things that are similar. Like your personality, favorite foods, and your behaviors, too.

I was careless because I thought that no one would ever know, but I guess Im showing my past traits too much. Should I take the chance to say, Im actually the reincarnation of your sister, or something? Im really curious how she would react but I think, I cant do that. Id hate myself if I trifle with their lives like that.

Hiori, Tsubaki, and Rumi are all walking forward with their own strength. Therefore, [I] cant be their shackle. Its just right for me to watch over them secretly, and push them from behind at times. It makes me feel a bit lonely, but thats how it should be. Because in these 16 years, theyve all been treading their own paths in their lives.

At any rate, theyre late.

Youre right.

Although its still early for dinner, its been quite a long time from the time we separated. Its starting to make me worry.

Did they get caught by some salesman? Or, is it the talent scouts instead? They could be getting hit on, too

Nope, nope, and nope.

I know that Hioris beauty and Tsubakis cuteness make them stand out, and theyre often called out for one reason and another. Theres a chance of it happening if Tsubaki was alone, but in Hioris case, she wont even look at them.

Now that I think about it, when I was walking alone with Hiori at a shopping district before, she kept ignoring anyone whos trying to catch her attention. If there was a persistent guy, she would intimidate him and say, Youre a nuisance. That was so scary that it would make even a grown man back away. For that reason, no one can catch her so easily.

Hm I wonder if something happened.

I will try to call them.

I see. Please do that.

I take out my cell phone and try to give Tsubaki a call, but it wont connect. Maybe her battery has run out.

Huh, its not connecting.

Maybe her cell phone has run out of power, or are they currently somewhere with poor signals?

I try to call Hiori, but she isnt answering, either. Maybe Rumi is right about them being somewhere with poor signals.

Im sure theyll be home soon.

Youre right.

Well, since Hiori is with her, there should be no problem.

And so, we spend the time idly as we wait for their return.