"A year and a half has passed since the discovery of the pollution in Himawari Bay, it is estimated that more than two thousand five hundred people have been affected [...] And the victims are still not receiving compensation..."
News like this was the most talked about at the time.
"... the citizen protests in Himawari city, provoked violence in the last few weeks..."
"... finally the Supreme Court has reached a decision, holding the government responsible for allowing the mercury contamination to continue for years after its discovery..."
I turned off the TV, tired of hearing the same old thing.
"Don't you plan to eat?" I started talking when I noticed that my little sister's curry dish was intact. "Yuriko, you know I don't like food to go to waste. Go on, eat up."
She, making tender pouting, gave me a sharp look of disapproval, with no intention of touching the plate.
"You're so stubborn," I continued, letting out a sigh. "I'd better cover the plate, but you'll see when your stomach starts growling."
Ignoring my complaints, my sister hurried to get out her notebook and started writing on it.
"And here we go again..." I said to myself knowing what was coming next.
[The money, where did you get it?].
That was the message she wrote in the notebook.
"Well... I helped a gentleman in a store; you know, lifting some boxes, because as his back started to hurt and he gave me some money for the help instead..."
She gave me an analytical look and then wrote:
[Don't lie to me! I know when you're not telling the truth. You stole that money!]
Yes... I was definitely very bad at lying.
"Then, what the hell are you asking for? Forget it already. What happened was I found a wallet on the street and went to return it. And, coincidentally, what little money I had ended up in my pockets..."
[That's called stealing] Yuriko was staring at me without her grumpiness disappearing. [First you took money from several tourists without them noticing, and now this...]
[After the anger, sadness began to show in my younger sister's eyes, as the corner of her mouth descended melancholyly. That expression was the last one I wanted to see in Yuriko, however...
"I'm doing my best," I said, looking away. Mother is too sick to go to work and the little money I get from helping out in the shops is simply not enough. This is just survival, haven't you seen on TV about "the law of the strongest"?
[You're starting to sound like "he"...]
"Ah, you mean Mr. Makishima? Well, he understands our situation, and if it weren't for Mr. Makishima, we wouldn't have anything to buy the medicine Mom needs."
Now it was Yuriko who looked away, perhaps meditating on the delicate state of our mother's health. Finally she left the notebook on the table with one last message. I read it out of the corner of my eye:
[Brother, don't you plan to change?].
"No... Don't count on it..." I concluded after closing her notebook.
It must have been a little over four years, since that time when I had to take care of my younger sister, after my mother fell ill.
At that time I had to manage on my own to make sure that there was no shortage of food on the table and also to have something to buy my mother's medicines with, even if that meant committing misdemeanours.
It was a very difficult time...
I currently live under the care of a relative, who came from abroad when he heard about my mother's death. Thanks to her, my aunt, I haven't had to break the law.
When I woke up this morning, my sister's request to change my attitude came in the form of a distant dream.
Why did I dream of that moment?
Maybe it's because today is my first day of high school?
With the blossoming of the cherry trees one is encouraged to change; to wipe the slate clean, to be a better person? Basically it's like a "second" new year. However, for me, spring, summer or any other season is indifferent... So, what?
Or I just remembered that moment because I miss Yuriko...
That conclusion was more accurate.
"Rei, breakfast is ready" my aunt's voice was heard from below, disrupting my thoughts. "Today I have to do some errands before work, so I'm leaving now."
"Yes" I answered. "Have a nice day."
Well, I have to finish getting dressed, too.
While I was eating breakfast, I watched (or rather listened to) the morning news on the TV with little interest, but a certain report provoked a remarkable reaction in me.
It was about the opening of a company manufacturing technological devices, where the "Saionji Group" was listed as the parent company. Renji Saionji, the president of the company, was featured in the recordings.
"That guy..."
I couldn't help but feel anger when I heard the name of that person, who along with several of his relatives are listed as the main perpetrators of the Himawari Bay incident.
It is because of the "Saionji Group" that I lost my family, and today I do not have my younger sister accompanying me on a day that is supposed to be special.
I immediately took the remote control and turned off the TV, before my emotions were overwhelmed.
I quickly finished my breakfast, brushed my teeth and plate, grabbed my bag and went straight to school.
"Yuriko..."
As I locked the door to my house, I unconsciously whispered my younger sister's name, noting that the promise we had made to go to our schools together would not be fulfilled.