"Big brother, you're so cool!" my little sister exclaimed.
"Yeah, thanks," I replied, still feeling tired as I walked over to where she was sitting.
By the way, there was someone next to her…
A girl…?
She looked somehow familiar. Could she be my sister?
I was certain I'd seen this girl before, but I couldn't quite recall when or where.
"Yuu, go take a bath first. We're going to celebrate your and Luna's birthday," my mom said, carrying some items as my dad walked over to help her.
Luna, huh? So she's not my older sister, Yuna.
"Yuna is coming home too!" Yuka chimed in, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Okay." I guessed I'd try to remember when and where I had seen Luna while I took my bath.
As I leaned back in the warm water, I let the soothing heat envelop me. My thoughts drifted back to the girl I'd seen earlier. There was something undeniably familiar about her, but I couldn't place it. It felt like trying to grasp a fleeting memory that remained just out of reach.
"Whew, warm water sure is the best," I murmured, letting out a sigh of contentment. The bathwater was perfect, and my fatigue seemed to ebb away with each passing moment. I wished I could harness my mom's healing magic; it would've made things a lot easier.
"I wonder how long it'll take for my wounds to heal," I thought, glancing down at the marks on my skin. Slowly, I noticed them fading, almost as if the warm water possessed a healing quality of its own.
"Is this my mom's magic? It feels different, though," I mused, my curiosity piqued. I'd have to ask her later if she'd added something special to the bathwater.
With each passing minute, my thoughts drifted back to Luna. Why did she seem so familiar? I racked my brain, trying to recall where I might have seen her before, but nothing came to mind. It felt strange to feel a sense of recognition for someone I was just meeting. Perhaps I'd encountered her in a dream or somewhere else entirely?
"What a weird feeling…" I sighed, shaking my head as I finished my bath.
After drying off and getting dressed, I took a moment to compose myself. Taking a deep breath, I opened the bathroom door.
The sounds of chatter filled the air, but it wasn't as lively as I had expected. My little sister's voice cut through the noise. "Yuu, finally! You're just in time!"
I stepped into the room and caught sight of Luna standing off to the side, her demeanor slightly aloof. She offered me a quick glance before looking away, a hint of distance in her expression.
"Hey, Luna," I said, trying to break the ice.
"Hey," she replied softly, not quite meeting my eyes. It felt like there was an invisible barrier between us, and I couldn't help but wonder why.
"Are you ready for the surprise?" my sister asked, her enthusiasm palpable.
"Sure, what is it?" I replied, glancing back at Luna, who remained a bit withdrawn. It felt odd to sense her coolness toward me, especially with my sister so excited.
"It's a birthday dinner," my sister said, clapping her hands together. "We made your favorite dish!"
"Really? Thanks!" I smiled, hoping to ease the tension.
As we gathered around the table, I couldn't shake the feeling that Luna was still holding back. I wanted to connect with her, to understand the familiarity that tugged at my mind, but it felt like a challenge. Perhaps I'd find the right moment to bridge the gap as the evening unfolded.
My sister is coming, I wonder what she looks like. I can't help but smile and feel excited. I've never felt this excited in my past life.
Wait, past life? Right, I almost forgot about my past life… It was too empty, so maybe that's why.
"Looks like you can smile now, Haruki," a voice came from next to me.
"Luna?" Did she just say Haruki? How did she know that name? I'm sure I've never told anyone about it.
Wait, does that mean she's from the same world as me? There's only one person I can think of.
"Natsume Yuki?"
With what I said, she sighed a little. "You took *that* long to figure it out? Are you an idiot or something? How did an idiot like you become the top of the class?"
"I see, so it's you, huh?"
This is the first time I've seen her in this world. I had almost forgotten about her, honestly.
"It's your birthday today too?" I asked.
On Earth, today would be January 12th, but here it's called the 22nd day of Capricorn.
"Mhm, unfortunately yes."
Unfortunately? I couldn't help but sigh as I realized what she meant.
"You can't do anything about it. We died at the same time, so it's completely normal to be reincarnated at the same day and time. Just enjoy the day," I said. Just then, someone knocked on the door.
Mom gestured to my father to open it, and as soon as he did—
"I'm home!!!" A girl jumped onto my father and gave him a big hug.
Her eyes were closed, a cute, big smile on her face, black hair swaying… She looked like… my mother?
As soon as she let go of our father, the mysterious girl came running to my mom and gave her a hug.
My mother and father were so happy, and so was Yuka. She was so excited that she ran from the table toward the girl, avoiding obstacles like the table and chairs.
"Sister!" Yuka called out with a big, wide smile, her arms open.
So she's my older sister, Yuna.
Somehow my heart was racing with excitement. Unlike with my younger sister, this was my first time seeing Yuna face to face.
Yuna let go of the hug and turned to the running Yuka. She opened her arms, held Yuka beneath her underarms, and lifted her up before spinning her around.
"Yuka, I missed you so much!"
As soon as they stopped, Yuna's eyes suddenly landed on me.
S-somehow, I felt tense…
My body couldn't stop trembling.
She slowly walked toward me after putting Yuka down, her eyes looking me up and down, her face serious.
"Are you Yuu?" she asked in a stern tone.
Why do I feel like her whole atmosphere changed?
"Y-yes," I stammered, nodding a little.
Does she hate me or something?
While I was lost in my thoughts, I suddenly felt her arms wrap around me, gently caressing my head.
"Happy birthday, Yuu!"
Her voice was soft, yet full of warmth. I froze for a moment, unable to process the sudden shift. I had expected a scolding or something much harsher, but this... this was different. My heart, which had been racing with anxiety, slowly calmed. Yuna's hug was surprisingly gentle, and I couldn't help but relax into it.
"T-thank you," I managed to mutter, my voice barely above a whisper.
She pulled back and looked at me with a kind smile, her eyes filled with a mixture of nostalgia and affection. "You've grown up so much since I last saw you."
I wasn't sure how to respond, so I simply smiled back. The tension that had built up in me dissolved, and for the first time today, I felt a sense of peace.
Dinner that night was lively. The house was filled with laughter and chatter as we all sat around the table. Yuka was her usual energetic self, bouncing from one topic to another, while Yuna and my parents shared stories from when she was away. Luna remained quiet for the most part, but every now and then, she'd glance in my direction, as if checking on me. I wasn't sure what to make of it, but there was a strange sense of comfort in knowing she was there.
By the end of the night, we had eaten our fill and exchanged presents. It was a simple celebration, but somehow, it felt incredibly special.
As I lay in bed later that evening, the events of the day played through my mind. My thoughts kept drifting back to Luna and her strange familiarity. And then there was Yuna—her warmth, her kindness... I had never felt so connected to my family before. Maybe things were starting to change.
"Happy birthday to me, I guess," I whispered to myself, staring at the ceiling. A small smile tugged at my lips as sleep slowly began to take over.
Tomorrow would bring more questions and answers, but for now, I allowed myself to rest.