YUMI'S POV
I was messing around on my phone until the sound of the doorknob turning made me look up. Hinata-san stepped into the room.
"Pardon my intrusion," she said softly.
"Welcome to my room, Hinata-san!" I replied with a smile.
Futaba Hinata, my big brother's girlfriend. I still can't believe he actually managed to get such a beautiful girlfriend. And to think, I used to say, "When I grow up, I want to marry my big bro." Ugh, just remembering that makes me cringe.
"Um, Hinata-san, I want to talk to you about my brother," I said, deciding to be direct.
After putting down her things, Hinata-san looked at me and smiled. "Sure, I'd love to."
I hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words. "He's… kind of a dummy, isn't he?" I said, laughing awkwardly. "But he really cares about you. Sometimes, I think he's just bad at showing it."
Hinata-san's smile softened. "Yeah, he can be pretty dense," she agreed, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "But that's part of his charm, right?"
I nodded. "I guess so... but do you really like him, even when he's being clueless?"
Hinata-san looked thoughtful for a moment before answering. "It's not always easy, but yeah. I like him, not just for the good parts but for everything he is."
Hearing that made me feel a little better. Maybe my big bro wasn't as hopeless as I thought.
"You know, I heard him say once that he's had a lot of people trying to confess to him. Is that true? And there was this one time he mentioned a girl in glasses trying to confess while he was reading a book, and he just told her to shush. I don't think I believe that story."
Hinata-san chuckled awkwardly before looking at me. "Yumi-chan... the girl in glasses was me."
My jaw dropped. "Wait, what? You're telling me that was you? And he shushed you while you were confessing?!"
She laughed again, this time with a hint of embarrassment. "Yeah... it wasn't one of his finest moments. He was so focused on his book, he barely noticed."
I stared at her, still processing what she just said. "How did you not give up after that? I would've been so mad!"
Hinata-san smiled softly, her gaze distant as if she were remembering the moment. "I was frustrated at first, but I knew him well enough to understand he wasn't doing it to be mean. He's just... a little clueless sometimes. But that's also why I like him. He's honest, even when he doesn't realize how dense he's being."
I shook my head in disbelief. "I would've kicked him if I were you."
Hinata-san laughed again, her eyes sparkling. "Trust me, I considered it. But instead, I decided I'd just have to try harder to get through to him."
I smiled at her determination. "Wow, you're really something, Hinata-san."
"Thanks, Yumi-chan. And look at us now." She gestured around the room. "I guess persistence pays off."
"You know, I always wanted a big sister or little sister..." I said quietly.
"Hmm, why's that?" Hinata-san asked, tilting her head.
"Since I was a kid, my big bro— I mean, my big brother has always been pampering me, even now..." I trailed off.
"..."
"My big brother works part-time so that I can go to college," I continued, my voice cracking slightly. "Geesh, why would he do something like that?" Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my cheeks.
Hinata-san watched me, her expression unreadable. I must look pathetic right now, I thought.
I sniffled, wiping my eyes when I suddenly noticed her face. "Huh?" I mumbled, looking up at her. Hinata-san's own tears were falling as she gently wiped mine away.
"Come here, you..." she whispered, opening her arms and gesturing for me to come closer.
Without thinking, I leaned into her, and she wrapped me in a soft, warm hug. It felt strange but comforting, like the big sister I'd always wanted.
"You don't have to hold it all in, Yumi-chan," she said softly. "It's okay to feel overwhelmed sometimes."
I stayed in her arms for a while, feeling the steady rhythm of her heartbeat, the warmth of her embrace calming the ache in my chest.
"He really loves you, you know," she added, her voice gentle but firm. "Your brother... he's doing all this because he wants the best for you."
I nodded against her shoulder, too choked up to respond. Even though I knew it deep down, hearing it from someone else made it all the more real.
"And Yumi-chan," she continued, pulling back slightly so I could see her face. "I may not be your real sister, but I'll be here for you, too. So, you're not alone, okay?"
I blinked up at her, feeling a warmth spread through me. Maybe having a big sister wasn't so far-fetched after all.
After a few minutes, I felt refreshed.
"Thank you, Hinata-san… for listening to me," I said.
"Like I said, I'll be here for you," she replied with a warm smile.
Ahh… so this is what it feels like to have a big sister. 'Big bro, you have to marry this girl!' I thought to myself.
…
Hinata-san then started to look around my room, her gaze locking onto one book on my shelf.
"Are you looking at that book?" I asked.
"Eh? Ah, yeah..." she said, a little surprised.
"You know about this book?" I asked, walking over to the shelf to pick it up.
"Himeya-san wrote this book, right?" she said, her eyes lighting up.
"Yeah, I'm a big fan," I replied, holding it up.
The Girl Beyond the Moon—another creation by Shin Himeya-san. It tells the story of a man who changed his fate, even though he had to start from scratch, all to save the girl he loved. In the end, the story brings a happy reunion between the protagonist and the heroine, illuminated by the light of a big moon.
"You know, I cried when I read this book. Of course, I read it after I learned about Himeya-san," Hinata-san said.
"Really? I cried too. I didn't know much about the person behind the book, but after we met him and Haruka-san at Comi-fes, it changed everything," I said with a chuckle.
Hinata-san smiled, nodding. "You know, his daughter is enrolled in our school. She's the president of the student council."
"Wait, really?!"
"Yeah, and she's one of the girls trying to steal Yukito-kun from me."
"Snatching cat," I muttered, smirking.
"Pfft… hahaha! She's more beautiful than me, you know?" Hinata-san said with a laugh.
"More beautiful than you?" I raised an eyebrow. "I don't believe it."
Hinata-san blushed slightly, shaking her head. "I mean it. She's really graceful and smart too."
I crossed my arms, trying to imagine someone more perfect than Hinata-san, but it just didn't click. "Well, if she's after my big brother, she's got some tough competition."
Hinata-san smiled warmly at me. "Thanks, Yumi-chan. But no matter how things go, I'm just happy being by his side."
"You're not giving up, are you?"
"Never," she said confidently.
"Hinata-san, please marry my big brother!" I blurted out.
Hinata-san blinked in surprise, then laughed softly. "I'm thinking about it," she said, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink. "Hahaha."
Her response made me feel a mix of excitement and embarrassment, but mostly happiness. The idea of her becoming my sister for real filled me with joy.
"I knew it!" I grinned. "You two are perfect together."
"Well, it's still a bit too early to think about marriage," Hinata-san said, though her smile didn't fade. "We're still in high school, after all."
"Yeah, but it's never too early to plan!" I teased.
Hinata-san laughed again, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You really like teasing me, don't you, Yumi-chan?"
"I just want to make sure you stay with my brother forever," I replied with a playful wink.
Hinata-san's expression softened. "Don't worry. As long as your brother wants me by his side, I'll always be there."
I felt a warmth spread through my chest. It was reassuring, knowing that someone like her cared so deeply for Yukito.
"But, you know..." Hinata-san began, her tone a little more serious, "it's not just about being with him. I want him to grow, to become someone he's proud of, and I want to help him with that."
I tilted my head. "Help him how?"
"Well, your brother sometimes doubts himself," she explained. "He's stronger than he thinks, but he needs someone to remind him of that."
I nodded slowly, realizing that even though I looked up to my brother, he still had his own struggles.
"You really understand him," I said softly.
Hinata-san smiled and nodded. "I try to. And I think, with time, we'll both become better versions of ourselves."
That night, we spent a lot of time getting to know each other better. As I thought, Hinata-san really was the perfect match for my big bro. After our long conversation, the two of us decided to sleep in my room, sharing the same bed.
Lying there, I could feel the warmth of Hinata-san next to me. It was comforting, like having a big sister beside me. The room was quiet, and the only sound was our steady breathing.
"Yumi-chan," Hinata-san whispered suddenly, her voice soft in the dark.
"Hm?"
"Do you think… Yukito-kun really likes me?"
I turned to look at her, though in the dim light, I could barely see her face. "Of course he does! I mean, you're his girlfriend, aren't you?"
"I know… but sometimes I worry. He's so hard to read," she said quietly, her voice filled with uncertainty.
I thought about it for a moment. My big brother could be clueless at times, but I knew deep down he cared about her. "You know, he's not great at showing his feelings, but I can tell he's serious about you. You're the only person who makes him smile like that."
Hinata-san let out a soft laugh. "I hope you're right."
"You know what?" I said, trying to cheer her up. "If he doesn't realize how amazing you are, I'll knock some sense into him myself."
"Pfft, thanks, Yumi-chan," she giggled.
With that, the tension in the air eased, and we both settled into the covers. It felt like having a sleepover with someone I could trust completely.
"Goodnight, Yumi-chan," she whispered.
"Goodnight, Hinata-san."
As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but smile. This felt like the start of something special—between Hinata-san, big bro, and even me.