Chapter 23: Entrusted, Again

I knew how protective Kenji was over both his sisters. This was going to require careful handling.

"Did you know that Sachi really liked your dango trick?"

"Yeah. You told me."

"Right. But she liked it so much… she taught Hana-chan."

"You mean she told Hana-chan about it." Kenji corrected me.

"Yeah. Except Hana-chan… applied it. During the fireworks festival."

Kenji dropped the stake. I swerved the hammer mid-swing to avoid his hand. His neck turned slowly.

"Ryo. Say that again. Slowly. I want to be sure I heard correctly."

It wasn’t easy for me either. I repeated myself slowly. "Hana-chan used the dango trick."

"On who?" He straightened and looked at me directly.

My grip on the hammer tightened. I was suddenly aware that the hammer might be my only viable means of defence if Kenji decided to use the stakes.

"Calm down, Kenji."

"I am calm. Tell me who it was. Then help me teach him a lesson." His expression suggested the opposite of calm.

I set the hammer on the ground and carefully removed the stakes from his hands.

I put both hands on his shoulders. "Kenji." I gulped. "Hana-chan was with me the entire festival. Just me."

Kenji’s eyes widened slowly. His mouth opened.

"You… ate Hana-chan’s dango?" He said it slowly.

Putting it that way makes it sound about a hundred times worse.

"Kenji. Let’s take a step back. What I’m telling you is that I think Hana-chan may have feelings for me."

I sat him down on the ground.

"I know how protective you are of her. So I’m being honest with you. I’ve been noticing things, and Sachi-chan helped me see them clearly."

He looked at me, then frowned slowly.

"Now that you say it… Sachi-chan has been shipping the two of you together."

"Yeah. Hana-chan must have confided in her."

"I get it. But, Ryo — I need to know something else."

I knew what was coming. I nodded.

"How do you feel about Hana-chan? Be honest. I can handle it. She’s my sister — if this isn’t what you want, I’ll tell Sachi-chan to back off. That’s a promise."

Kenji meant every word. He could let Sachi have her way on most things, but when it came to his sisters’ wellbeing — especially Hana’s — he didn’t move.

"Kenji. I can deal with Sachi-chan. I don’t want you two fighting over this."

I still hadn’t answered his question. He noticed.

"Does that mean you’re okay with it? Me being with Hana-chan?"

"Bro. If Hana-chan likes you, there’s not much I can say about it. I mean, I’d tell her off if she liked someone who didn’t deserve her. But if it’s you…"

The silence said the rest. Kenji put a hand on my shoulder.

"You’ve been through a rough few weeks, Ryo. I’m sorry you’re in this spot. I imagine you have things half-planned already."

"Not really. Sachi-chan only told me last night."

"Oh." He frowned. Then looked up with a grin. "You need help?"

"Kenji. I haven’t even told you whether I like Hana-chan."

He thought about it, then shook his head slowly.

"Truth is, I noticed how much she gravitated toward you. And you seemed… better around her. Happy is too strong a word. Less depressed is probably more accurate." He smiled.

Why am I always the last person to understand my own feelings?

"You’ve always cared for both my sisters, Ryo. As their brother, that’s what I want for whoever they end up with. You’ve made mistakes. But honestly — I’d probably have made the same ones in your position."

I had spent a long time judging myself as unworthy of happiness because of what I’d done. And here was Kenji, willing to entrust his sister’s happiness to me. Someone he held closer than anyone.

His words landed somewhere quiet and solid.

"Ryo. Does Yuki-chan know about any of this?"

I nodded.

"She told me to take good care of Hana-chan."

I remembered her crying behind the closed door as I’d stood in the corridor. The familiar ache came back, along with the guilt. But we both knew it was the right thing.

"That’s all I’m asking too." Kenji nodded. "Take good care of her. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing."

He stood and brushed the dirt off his trousers. Then, after a breath, he bowed deeply at me.

"Hayashi Ryo. I leave Hana-chan in your care."

I scrambled to my feet. "Kenji, I —"

"I know you haven’t decided yet. But you have my blessing in advance."

A moment of silence. Then I stood properly, feet together, and returned his bow. “Thank you, Kenji. For trusting me after everything… I’ll do my best.”

Kenji grinned and pulled me into a one-armed hug. “My bro might become my brother-in-law.” He laughed.

I laughed too and picked up the hammer and stakes.

"We’ll see about that. One thing at a time."

"Damn right we’ll see."

* * *

The day of Obon arrived. I was up early, ready for the trek.

"Sachi-chan. I’ll see you all at the festival tonight. Going out for a walk."

"A walk? That sounds ominous." She looked at me. "You remember you have an assignment tonight, right?"

"Yeah. Going to do my homework somewhere quiet first."

Sachi gave me a long look. Then a satisfied huff. “Make sure you score well.”

I took the bus out to the forest. I hadn’t been to this part of the woods in years. The cold, clean air did its work immediately — the anxiety of the past days started to lift the moment I stepped onto the trail.

Sunlight fell through the canopy in shafts, giving the path a shifting warmth. I took my phone out and photographed some of it. No signal out here.

Expected, this deep in.

I hiked further in, keeping an eye on the time.

The woods have barely changed.

A few hours later I sat down and unpacked my lunch. Luncheon meat, rice, and an apple. Simple. The birds and insects filled the silence around me.

This is it. This is what I missed. Not the drama. Not the heartbreak. This.

After I finished, I sat for a while, looking at the ground.

I should take my time before confessing to Hana-chan. Although everyone else has given me their blessing. But this feels too hurried. I don’t want her waiting in a long-distance relationship she didn’t sign up for. She deserves better than that. I’ll confess next year when things are more stable.

I packed up and stood. Nearly noon. The three o’clock bus was still well within reach — and even if I missed it, the last one left at five.

I took a step forward.

The rock was half-hidden in shadow, coated in lichen. My foot found it before my eyes did. I lurched, scrambled for balance, and missed.

I went down with a sickening crunch.