After we left the house, my sister called a taxi. We didn't say a word to each other on the ride to our new home. As we stepped out of the taxi, I noticed the café where we had our previous discussion. Apparently, the entire building belonged to Shinobu-san, and she had converted one of the vacant floors, originally meant for tenants, into a residence for us.
"Welcome, glad you made it."
"Thank you for welcoming us."
"Haha, no need to be so formal. From today on, this is your home."
"Ignore him, Kaya. Let's go inside before we waste any more time."
With that, my sister grabbed my hand and led me inside the building. We climbed the stairs and opened the door to our new home. A distinct scent of a new place greeted us, so different from our old home, and it made me realize that we were really starting a new life.
"Well, it's a bit early, but how about we have lunch? Let's order some eel. It's a celebration, after all."
"Hah, you're just saying that because you want eel. But sure, I'm fine with takeout. Kaya, what do you want?"
"Huh? Oh, what are we talking about again?"
"What we should have for lunch. So, what do you feel like eating?"
"I don't mind, anything is fine."
"Alright then, eel it is."
"Great, I'll make the call right away. It's been years since I've had eel."
Shinobu-san disappeared to make the call, and my sister and I began unpacking our things. Most of our belongings had already been sent over, though there wasn't much to begin with, so it didn't take long to settle in. In this new home, my sister and I decided to share a room instead of having separate ones.
Once we were done unpacking, we heard Shinobu-san call out, "Lunch is here!" So, we left the room and headed to the dining area.
"Eel rice boxes, not just eel bowls! Come on, sit down. Let's toast to your bright future!"
"You're unusually excited. Is it really just the eel you're happy about?"
"Partly, yes. But I'm mostly just thrilled that you two can finally live away from those parents of yours. You know, last time it was just Yuu."
"…I see."
"But enough of that, let's enjoy ourselves."
So, the three of us sat down for lunch. I realized that this was the first meal I'd had that wasn't with my parents. I wouldn't be eating my mother's cooking anymore or having my father quiz me about my studies. As these thoughts ran through my mind, I found I couldn't fully enjoy the eel.
After we finished eating, Shinobu-san quickly excused himself, saying he had things to do, and left us alone. He was like a whirlwind—so much energy, so many words, and then suddenly gone. Once he left, the place felt eerily quiet, even though it was just like when I was confined before. But for some reason, it felt different now.
"Hey, sis?"
"What is it?"
"…Was this really the right thing to do?"
Even though I thought separating was the only option, now that we'd actually done it, I couldn't help but wonder if there was another way. I asked my sister this question, hoping she would reassure me that I had made the right choice. After a pause, she finally answered.
"Who knows? I can't say."
"What do you mean, you don't know?"
"It wasn't the ending I envisioned, that's for sure. But I don't think this choice was necessarily wrong. At this point, there's nothing more I can say. Whether this was the right choice or not, only future you can decide that. All you can do now is work to make sure that in the future, you can look back and say this was the best decision."
Her words hit me deeply. I realized that I'd been feeling anxious. Until now, I'd rarely thought about my future. I had always just followed someone else's decisions and wishes. I had no confidence in the path I had chosen for myself. My sister's words, neither affirming nor denying my choice, made me realize that. Yes, it's up to me to make this path a good one.
"Thank you. You're right. I need to prove that this was the right choice."
"Exactly. I'm glad if I could help in some way."
My sister must have carved her own path forward, which is why she always acted with such confidence, as if she knew she was doing the right thing. And I realized that it was my job to support her so that she wouldn't have to do it alone. I couldn't afford to hesitate here.