After running into Yui-san, she tagged along with us. Along the way, she introduced herself more thoroughly. Yui-san mentioned that she was a 1st-year high school student. She is going to be a 2nd-year next semester.
Upon arriving back home, Aoi saw us.
[H]"Brother, Hasegawa-san, and?..."
[A]"Oh, this is my little sister Yui."
[Y]"Nice to meet you. My name is Hasegawa Yui."
[A]"It's a pleasure to meet you as well. My name is Tanaka Aoi. Oh, both of you, please come in."
[H]"Pardon the intrusion."
As we all head inside, my sister went to the kitchen to prepare some food for everyone. Then suddenly, Yui sat next to me on the couch. She whispered into my ear.
[Y]"Hey, are you dating my sister?"
*Tanka brings out his phone
[T]"#No, I don't plan on dating her."
[Y]"Eh, why not? You two seem close."
[T]"#I have my reasons."
[Y]"Ah, just when I thought my sister was finally starting to like someone."
[T]"#Why did you ask?
[Y]"Well, she used to be unapproachable, but she became a bit more lively when she met you."
[So, Hasegawa-san also used to be like me?"
[T]"#What made her give a cold shoulder?"
[Y]"I'm not sure myself, but father--"
[Then we suddenly got interrupted by Hasegawa-san.]
[H]"You two, what are you talking about?"
[Y]"Oh, I was asking him questions about how he got these injuries."
[Then Yui-san passes me a piece of paper while trying to avoid the suspicion of Hasegawa-san.]
[Y]"This is my phone number. Let's continue this later."
After a few minutes, Aoi came to the living room with some food.
[A]"I'm back with some food."
[Y]"That looks tasty."
[H]"Let me try out this one."
While we were eating, everyone got to know each other a bit better. After a couple of minutes of chatting with each other, it was time for Yui-san and Hasegawa-san to go back home. It was fun getting to more of Yui-san and Hasegawa-san. To be honest, I would have preferred if they stayed a bit longer. This was the most enjoyable time I had since being discharged from the hospital.
I return to my room. Ah, I'm tired. Oh, I almost forgot. Yui-san gave me her phone number. She's still probably on the way home. I'll just try to contact her later. I wonder what Hasegawa-san's father has to do with her behavior. I know it's not my business to poke my nose into their family's problem, but I'm curious to know why.
A couple of minutes have passed. They should have arrived home by now. Let me try texting Yui-san.
"Hey, this is Tanaka Hiroyuki."
"Oh, hey Tanaka-san."
[Woah, she replies quickly.]
"Have you already arrived home?"
"Yeah, just a few minutes ago."
"Are you doing something right now?"
"Not really."
"Then, I'd like to hear more about what you said a while ago."
"A while ago?"
"Yeah, the thing about your father."
"Ah, that one. Sure, but let me just take a bath."
"Oh, okay, sure."
"Huhu, You just imagined me naked, didn't you?"
"Sorry, but I don't have the slightest interests in chopping boards."
"That's just cruel. I'll just text you when I'm done then."
Now, what should I do while waiting? Read, watch, or perhaps play. Oh, yeah, I still have rehabilitation this afternoon. Why did I even have to get into an accident? With this, I'm a year late in high school. I have to go through being a 2nd-year again. I only have a few months before I go to school again.
A couple of minutes passed by.
*Phone rings
That must be Yui-san.
[Y]"Hey, Tanaka-san, are you still there?"
[T]"Yeah."
[Y]"Or did you want to see me bathe?"
[T]"Ugh, Why are you so different from your sister?"
[Y]"Well, sorry if I don't have breasts as big as hers."
[T]"I'm talking about your personalities."
[Y]"Oh, so that's what you meant."
[T]"What did you think I was talking about?"
[Y]"Nothing. Hehe. But when it comes to our personalities, I think it's because I lived with mom while she lived with dad."
[T]"Wait, so, your parents are divorced?"
[Y]"Yeah, pretty much."
[T]"It's my first time hearing it. So, you don't live in the same house?"
[Y]"Correct. So, sister really didn't tell you, huh?"
[T]"Come to think of it, I don't know much about Hasegawa-san."
[Y]"I can't blame you on that one. My sister is secretive about family stuff."
[T]"Why, though?"
[Y]"I also don't know specifically, but I think it has something to do with our dad."
[T]"Tell me more."
[Y]"It's too much to type."
[T]"I still want to know about it."
[Y]"Fine, give me a minute."
[T]"Sure thing."
[Y]"Well, this one time when I went for a visit at her place. When I visited at that time, I didn't notify her that I'll be coming over because I wanted to surprise her. When I got there, I heard someone shouting inside their house. I went closer to one of the windows while avoiding being seen, but I couldn't peek. The curtains were closed off. All I could hear was dad shouting. I just thought to myself that my sister did something. I waited till my dad stopped shouting, then I proceeded to ring the doorbell. As the door opened, I saw my sister, but her eyes shrunk, which looked obvious that she cried. When I looked at her closer, I saw bruises on her arms. I asked why she had those, she said that she just fell down the stairs. I didn't believe her because the bruises were shaped like hands. I pulled her outside and told her I'll be calling the police. She screamed at me and said no. I asked her why, but she didn't answer. Then I heard dad's voice scream out my sister's name. She immediately went inside and said that I should just come around another time with a depressed voice. Before I could say anything, she already went inside."
[T]"Does your mother know this?!"
[Y]"I did."
[T]"Then why is Hasegawa-san still with your dad?"
[Y]"When my mom went to my dad's house to check if I was telling the truth, my sister denied all the accusations I told about dad. So, in the end, mom thought I was lying. And unless we have strong evidence, the police won't be much of help."
[T]"Wait! A few days ago, Hasegawa-san visited me."
[Y]"Can you just call her by her first name? I'm getting confused as to which Hasegawa you are referring to."
[T]"Well, for the sake of explaining, I'll refer to her as Nagisa-san then."
[Y]"Continue."
[T]"A few days ago, when I was discharged from the hospital, Nagisa-san came to my house. And when I grabbed her by the hand, some powdery substance got into my hand. At first, I questioned why she had them, but I just shrugged it off but thinking of it now, I think that was makeup which she used to cover her bruises. I'm not sure, but I think it is a big possibility if what you said was true."
[Y]"I also noticed that she was buying a lot of makeup products."
[N]~You might be wondering which part in the story mentioned this scene. It's back in chapter 10, somewhere near the end.~
[Wait, but when I first met Nagisa-san, she was soaking wet. It was almost impossible for makeup to stay on. Could it possible that she wasn't being abused before that day. She did like staying out late. If I recall correctly, she also mentioned she had piano classes. This isn't something I should be responding to impulsively. I need to think of this accordingly.]
[T]"One quick question."
[Y]"What is it?"
[T]"Does your sister play the piano?"
[Y]"No, why?"
[T]"Because when I first met her, she said she was taking piano lessons."
[Y]"Why would she say that?"
[T]"She did point out the building behind us and said that's where she took piano classes."
[Y]"Was there any piano teaching school there?"
[T]"Yeah, but there were also some other things in that building."
[Y]"You know where that building is, right?"
[T]"Yeah."
[Y]" Let's go there tomorrow."
[T]"But tomorrow is a school day. Aren't you going?"
[Y]"You think I'm gonna sacrifice my sister's life just for school?"
[T]"Are you sure about this?"
[Y]"I'm sure. I've been trying to learn why my sister doesn't want to report the case. And this place could be a clue."
[T]"I also need to fulfill my promise to her. I said I would be there when she needs me the most. Even in this current state, I'm in right now. I must do it!"