"Yo, Riku, do you want to come to karaoke with us?" invite my classmates.
"Sorry, today I have a need, you guys go alone," I replied while joining my hands to apologize to them.
"I see. Well, you can come if you can later. Then we'll go first, be careful on the road," my classmates said and they all immediately left me.
"Well, you guys too, have fun."
I waved my hand while smiling seeing them getting farther away. But, as soon as I turned around to leave too, I immediately wiped all that smile from my face.
"Geez, it's really tiring to keep fake smiling," I muttered with a tired sigh. "But, I still have to do it or Shina will worry about me and blame herself," I continued to strengthen myself not to continue complaining.
After that, I walked again, today I intend to visit Shina who is still being treated in the hospital.
It's been 5 years since I lost my parents and now I'm in 3rd grade of middle school, whereas Shina should now be in 1st grade of middle school. But, because hers body continues to weaken, she cannot go to school like other children and can only continue to stay in the hospital.
It required a very troublesome procedure to be able to bring Shina out, because of that she always looked lonely when she was there.
To be honest, if possible I want to continue to be with her and keep her company. However, Shina forbade me and kept forcing me to go to school, so I had to go to school. Even though I told her I had learned all the lessons they taught me when I was little, so there was no point in studying any more.
Even if now I try to enroll in the university and take the test, I can easily get the best score. But, Shina didn't want that, she still insisted on telling me to go to school. She said I had to make friends and school was the right place.
Because I didn't want to disappoint her, I had to pretend to be a cool person just to make friends, even though I had no intention of being friends with any of them.
Geez, this is really troublesome.
"Excuse me." I walked to the reception area and greeted her politely. The female receptionist noticed me and she looked at me with a warm gaze.
"Yes, is there anything I can help you with?" she asked.
"I want to visit my little sister, her name is Shinomiya Shina," I answered immediately.
By the way, after being adopted into the Shinomiya family, our surname also changed. Previously our last name was 'Harutora', but now it's been changed to 'Shinomiya'. I have no regrets, on the contrary thanks to that, we are treated like a VIP in this hospital, because they can't let a family of such a rich man feel disappointed with the service they have.
I really owe a lot to the Shinomiya family. I don't know how to thank them anymore.
"Okay, please fill in your data and needs here first," said the receptionist, handing her a piece of form paper and a pen.
I filled it according to the soldiers there and gave it back.
"Thank you. Please wait a moment, there will be a nurse who will escort you to Shina-sama's room," continued the receptionist as she bowed politely and immediately called someone.
They didn't have to go this far, though. Although I'm also grateful that they treat us well here. But, it always bothers me whenever anyone finds out that I'm the son of the Leader of the Shinomiya Group, they immediately talk to me and try to suck up to me.
It was annoying to chase away people like that without tarnishing the name of the Shinomiya family.
"Riku-sama, sorry to keep you waiting."
While I was thinking that, someone came to pick me up, but it wasn't a nurse, but a woman in a maid's outfit.
"Maya-san, thanks for the hard work," I said and walked towards her.
"There's no need to be so formal with me, Riku-sama. I'm here on orders from Gorou-sama to take good care of Shina-sama, so it's my duty," Maya replied while lowering her head.
She was a maid sent here to look after Shina. In particular, she is in charge of helping Shina's needs such as urinating, making food, and so on.
There were also other maids sent here, but Shina rejected all of them, as she was not used to them. At first she also refused to be given a maid, but I forced her to take at least one person, because I didn't want her to get sick. Because of that, there was only Maya here.
Maya is a beautiful mature woman, with a toned body. She had straight black hair tied in a ponytail and fair skin. On top of that, I heard that she also studied some martial arts and has a long history with the Shinomiya family.
So I can be trusted to look after Shina. It's just that she's a very stiff person, so I don't know what she's really thinking.
"Alright, please follow me, Riku-sama. I will take you to where Shina-sama is," Maya said and I followed her without saying anything.
There we took an elevator and headed to the top floor of this hospital building, namely the 17th floor which was only for the rich. But, right now that floor was all rented by the Shinomiya family, so there was only Shina's room there.
Actually this is too much, but I can't refuse their good intentions.
The Shinomiya family really treated us very well, Gorou's wife also welcomed us both warmly. They are good people.
It's just that, if asked if anyone had a problem, it would be their daughter.
Gorou has an only child who is the same age as me, hers name is Shinomiya Akane. I saw her a lot when I was at the residence, but we never spoke to each other, mostly just greetings.
I don't know why, but it seems like Akane really hates me.
When I thought maybe it was because she didn't like having other people's children in hers family, it turned out that she developed a friendly relationship with my sister, only when she was with me she acted cold.
I really don't know what's on that girl's mind.
When I sighed tiredly, we finally arrived at the door of the ward Shina was occupying. At that instant, I glanced at Maya who was standing behind me.
She understood what I meant and immediately left after bowing once.
After that, I started to arrange my appearance, as soon as I was satisfied with the shape of the smile I had, I immediately knocked on the door of the room.
"Shina, it's me!" call me.
At that moment, I heard my sister's voice from inside the room.
"Onii-sama?!" She sounded surprised, but I didn't really care.
"I'm in," I said and without thinking immediately opened the door to hers room.
"W-Wait! Onii-sama, please wait a moment! Shina still—" Shina screamed frantically, but she immediately froze when she saw me enter.
"So what did you do this time?" I asked, as I watched the girl stay like a statue as she tried to remove the ribbon that held hers hair in twintails.
There, I also saw a comic book that I always buy for her, it opens at the part when a protagonist compliments her heroine's twintail hairstyle.
It seemed she was trying to imitate her.
Shina's face started to turn red, she was really so embarrassed that smoke was billowing from her head.
"Don't worry, after all you're in puberty right now, so I know why you're also starting to be interested in—"
"Noisy, shut up! You stupid Onii-sama!" cut Shina while throwing a pillow at my face before I could finish my own sentence.
"Oh my, you don't need to get that angry, do you?" I caught the pillow and put it back on the bed.
"Shina doesn't want to know anymore! Shina doesn't want to talk to you right now!" my sister said while puffing out her cheeks in a pout.
I sighed briefly, then walked over to her and sat next to her.
"You know, if you say that with a hairstyle like that, you're only going to get cuter. Are you trying to be the tsundere little sister?" I said with a chuckle.
"Wh-Whatever Shina, right?!" Perhaps realizing that she still hadn't untied her hair, her cheeks flushed red and she hastily untied her ribbon.
"Though it was so cute earlier, why did you let go?" I said teasing her again.
"T-That's none of Onii-sama's business, right?! Stop teasing Shina already, what does Onii-sama really want?!" shouted Shina with her face still red. I laughed at her and she hit me.
Like that, time continued to pass as we talked and joked around.
Perhaps, only at this moment, I can honestly express my feelings without any lies. For me, Shina is the only encouragement I have to get through these tiring days.
I swear I will definitely do anything to make her happy.
However, I myself am aware...
That days like this wouldn't last long. Shina's body is getting weaker and weaker and until now there is still no treatment to cure it.
"Cough! Cough!"
"Shina?!" I shouted frantically when I saw Shina who suddenly coughed, I winced.
"No, Shina is fine, Onii-sama. It's just a normal cough. Also, please tell me again about the game Onii-sama told me about earlier. What happened to the Princess after that?" replied Shina with a gentle smile and she secretly hid the cloth she used for coughing before from me.
There, even if it was just a glimpse, I saw a spot of blood. However, I tried to close my eyes and not bring it up, because apparently Shina didn't want me to worry about it either. So, still in my smile, I continued to say.
"Well, actually I haven't finished the game either, so I don't know how their story will continue," I said.
Hearing that, Shina looked disappointed. "Why doesn't Onii-sama continue?!" she asked irritably, because the story I was telling ended hanging at the most interesting scene.
"Oh my, you don't need to be that sad too. Alright, how about we play the game together later? There's also a TV here so I just have to bring the game."
"Is it true?!"
"Sure, I promise, and also, tomorrow I'll buy you the novel you like, won't tomorrow a new volume of that novel be released?"
"Eh, really?! Onii-sama promise?! Promise?! Shina will wait for Onii-sama! So Onii-sama must really keep his promise or Shina will be furious!"
Shina looks so happy, she looks so impatient waiting for it. It makes me happy too when she smiles so wide like this. As much as possible I want to make her forget the pain for a while.
"Yeah yeah, didn't I tell you I promise, you don't need to get that excited either. Geez, you're really a troublesome sister," I said, a little overwhelmed by my sister's behavior.
After that, I calmed her down by stroking hers head, she looked so very happy when I did it.
It seems that tomorrow I have to cancel all my schedules. Well, if it's for Shina's happiness, I guess I have no other choice.
Tomorrow before going here I will stop by the bookstore to buy her the novels she likes and also some novels that she might like. Since Shina couldn't leave the hospital, the only fun she had was reading novels and comics as if I wasn't with her.
Sometimes we also play games together.
Those were really fun days.
But—
Looks like this world is still not enough to take what I have anymore.
**************
"Huff! Huff! Huff!"
I ran, I ran and kept running regardless of everything, as if my whole life was devoted only to running.
That was the time when I should have promised Shina to play games together and buy her the novels she likes. It was supposed to be a happy day where we all day playing together.
It should be a happy day where I can see Shina smiling.
It was supposed to be a peaceful day where we would joke around again as usual.
It was supposed to be a very very important day, where I promised to accompany her to play a game.
But…
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?—
—Why did you even leave me?
"Shina?!"
'Bang!'
I ran as fast as I could towards the 17th floor without taking the elevator and then opened the door of Shina's ward with a bang. Then, I immediately went to Shina's bed, where everyone else had also gathered.
Standing around Shina, were Gorou, his wife, Akane, Maya, and also the doctor who always checked Shina's body regularly.
When they saw me, their faces looked very bitter and they quickly left the room to give me some alone time with Shina right now, where her body was now really weak. Gorou tapped me on the shoulder and said something, but I couldn't hear what he was saying, because at this moment my ears kept ringing loudly.
Maybe it's the effect of me running, but I don't mind it. I, with a trembling body, walked over and sat next to Shina while holding back all the tears that wanted to fall. Looking at the girl lying weakly on the bed, I gently took her hand which was already very cold.
"What is Onii-sama?" she asked in a low voice and heavy breathing.
I winced, my chest getting tighter. "Well, it's me, Shina," I replied and held the girl's hand tighter.
Shina smiled when she found out that it was me.
"Onii-sama, do you remember our promise? Today we will play a game together, right?" she said with a gentle smile.
"Well, of course, how could I forget the promise I made with you. I also brought you a novel that you like," I replied in a trembling voice, while trying hard to hold back my tears.
"Onii-sama, today we're going to be playing games all day right?"
"Well, of course, we'll be together today."
No, please, don't say that.
"Onii-sama, have you played the game by now?"
"No, I'm just about to start, so you don't have to worry."
Please, Shina, please don't leave brother.
"Really? Even though Onii-sama can start first without waiting for Shina."
"Are you stupid? Didn't we promise to play together."
Shina, please, stay with brother. Brother promised to find a way to save you, so please hold on a little longer.
"But, for some reason today Shina feels very sleepy, so I don't think Shina will be able to play with Onii-sama."
"What do you mean by that? You can't sleep, today we will play a game together according to the promise we made, watch out if you break it."
Shina… Please…
"Sorry, Onii-sama."
"Khh!"
Hearing that, I bit my lips tightly, and kept tightly gripping Shina's hand while lowering my face into hers.
At that moment, my tears had fallen. I can't hold it anymore, this tight feeling continues to eat away at my heart and destroy me.
Please, Shina, stay with me.
I repeatedly recited my prayer, while crying sobbing, I continued to pray.
But, it seems my prayers will never come.
A moment later, Shina smiled gently.
"Onii-sama, I love you."
"Ah?"
Hers hands dropped and Shina finally closed her eyes for good.
"… Aah?"
At that very moment—
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH—!!!"
—For the first time in my life, I screamed so loudly.
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[END]