(Old)Meeting Asuka -Part2

Asuka's room was neat and orderly, with flowers by the window basking in the blue sky's light. Asuka lay in her small bed, gazing intently at Sora.

Sora approached the bed with a bright smile. "Hello, Asuka-chan! I'm Sora♪"

At Sora's innocent greeting, Asuka's tension gradually eased despite her initial surprise.

"Um... Sora-san?" Asuka asked tentatively.

"Yes♪" As Sora nodded gently, Asuka continued, "Are you... my brother's classmate?"

Sora showed a delighted smile and replied, "That's right! Yuta and I are good friends♪"

This statement caught Yuta by surprise, and he stared at Sora's face. While they had been talking more at school lately, he hadn't thought they were close enough for Sora to call them "good friends." However, there was something inexplicably convincing about her words that made them feel natural and acceptable.

After that, Sora naturally sat down beside Asuka's bed and began cheerfully sharing stories about school events. From the amusing antics of Takashi's guard squad to interesting interactions with classmates during classes, Sora's stories seemed endless.

Though initially hesitant, Asuka gradually became drawn into the stories, her face brightening. Yuta occasionally joined the conversation, and a warm atmosphere filled the room.

Eventually, a small smile appeared on Asuka's face. For Yuta, it was the first genuine smile he had seen from his sister in a long time.

---

"Oh, look at the time!" Sora glanced out the window, noticing twilight approaching.

"I'm sorry, Asuka-chan. Can I come again?" Sora asked with a slightly sad expression, causing Asuka to show surprise.

"Eh...?" Asuka seemed taken aback by Sora's hopeful smile, which held pure anticipation.

"Yes! I won't come every day, but let me visit sometimes♪"

At Sora's innocent suggestion, Asuka hesitated momentarily before slowly nodding. "Yes... thank you."

While putting on her shoes at the entrance, Sora turned to Yuta with a bright expression. "Yuta, Asuka-chan is really cute!"

At those words, Yuta showed a slightly embarrassed expression and mumbled "...thank you." His voice carried an unusual softness not typically heard.

"I'll come again! Next time, let's talk even more!" Sora waved cheerfully and set off into the twilight. Yuta watched her departing figure with a strange sensation in his heart.

From that day forward, Sora began visiting Yuta's house regularly. What started as weekly visits gradually increased in frequency. On days when Sora visited, the whole house seemed brighter, with Asuka's smiles and laughter becoming more frequent. Yuta also felt his heart lightening at these sounds.

---

One evening, while Yuta was tending to the flower bed, Haruka, wearing an apron, spoke to him.

"Sora-chan comes over a lot lately. Haven't you noticed Asuka's starting to smile more?" Yuta nodded slowly while continuing his work. "Yeah. When Sora's around, Asuka seems more energetic."

"It's really a blessing. But..." Haruka sighed, lowering her gaze to the flower bed. "The medical bills keep piling up, and there's no way we can keep paying them..."

Yuta paused his work and forced out the words, "...I'll figure something out."

"How?" Haruka's voice trembled slightly. "Yuta, you're still in high school. Even if you took on more part-time work, it would barely make a dent. And the insurance your father left us is almost gone..."

At these words, Yuta held his breath, clutching the soil tightly. The dry earth slipped through his fingers, but he kept his head down and muttered in a low voice.

"Even so, I have to do something... to save Asuka."

Haruka remained silent for a while. After the prolonged silence, she finally spoke in a small voice, "Yuta, I understand. I really understand how you feel. But... reality isn't so kind. We can't do this alone anymore."

"Still." Yuta raised his voice, turning to face Haruka. "If Asuka can smile, that's enough. What else can I do?"

Haruka closed her eyes and shook her head slightly. "Yuta..." Unspoken emotions hung in the quiet evening garden.

---

That night, Asuka suddenly spoke up.

"Big brother..." At Asuka's soft murmur, Yuta turned around.

"What is it? Are you feeling unwell?" When Yuta asked worriedly, Asuka smiled softly and shook her head.

"No... I just feel like my body's gotten a bit lighter lately."

Yuta looked at his sister in surprise. Indeed, her cheeks had regained some color, and her voice seemed stronger than before.

"When I talk with Sora-san, my heart feels lighter. It's strange." A faint light sparkled in Asuka's eyes, and seeing this, a warm feeling spread through Yuta's chest.

"I see... that's good then." Yuta's voice was quiet, but it carried unmistakable relief.

"She really is... like an angel. That's how mysterious she seems." As Asuka's whispered words echoed in the room, a ray of hope pierced Yuta's heart. It was a sensation he hadn't felt in a long time.

Indeed, there was something special about Sora. Every time she visited, the house filled with comfort and warmth. It didn't seem like mere coincidence; it felt like a gift from heaven.