Hirota Hina: Sibling bond

Hina and I sit at the back. When I look at this situation, it looks like Takeda senpai is our butler.

“We will go to that place right, Arima?”

“Yes!”

“Where will we go?”

“Wait and see!”

From the hospital to the aquarium, it takes thirty minutes to get there. When we arrived there, Hina was so surprised.

“I don’t know you will bring me here. Did Hiroshi told you about this?”

“Yes. I asked him the place that you would like to go to. He said that you want to go here that’s why I plan to make aquarium date today.”

“It’s really look like dream.”

“Let’s go, Hina!”

“How about me? Should I wait in the car?”

“Kenji, you can follow us too!”

“Really?! Okay!”

The three of us pay for entrance ticket. Then we start our sightseeing. This is my second time here. So, I act as tourist guide. Fortunately, today there are not many people who come here. So, this place has become less crowded. Takeda senpai said he wants to walk by himself. He said he doesn’t want to disturb my date with Hina.

“Youta, what kind of fish that?”

“That is a whale shark.”

“Wow! It is so big! I hope Hiroshi can see this too.”

“Why did you not ask him to bring you here?”

“I don’t know how to ask him. “

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Youta, I want to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“What is difference between me and this aquarium?”

“You are human, and this aquarium is being built. Right?”

“No, Youta. The difference is this aquarium, many people can enter but me, only you can enter my heart!”

My heart skipped a beat when she said that. Is she really mean it?

“I am just kidding! What? Are you really thinking about that?”

“You really know how to play with my feelings, Hina.”

“I will stop now! But you look so cute when I say that line to you! Hihi!”

“I will really left you if you do not stop. There is Takeda senpai!”

“Both of you are here. How today’s date, Hina?”

“I feel happy today! Can we eat now? I feel hungry.”

“If I not mistaken, there is a café outside this aquarium. Should we go there , Takeda senpai, Hina?”

“Let’s go there, Youta!”

We go there. Takeda senpai ordering food for us and I finding seat with Hina. After we found the seat, Takeda senpai came to our table with the food he ordered.

“Arima, I need to go somewhere for a while. Can you take care of Hina?”

“Where do you go, Takeda senpai?”

“Eri suddenly called me earlier. She asks me to see her now.”

“Okay then.”

“I will come to get you later.”

“Take care!”

“Where is Kenji going, Youta?”

“He needs to go to his girlfriend.”

“Really. Youta, can I tell you a bit of my life?”

“Why suddenly you want to tell me about that?”

“I just feel I want to tell you.”

“Okay, then.”

My name is Hirota Hina. Older sister of Hirota Hiroshi. Our parents always busy with their business work. Sometimes they will have to work overseas. In the beginning, Hiroshi and I were not close with each other. He always spends time with his soccer friends. Meanwhile, I always spend time with my friend at the shopping mall. At home, we rarely talk to each other. Even though our parents are home, Hiroshi and I interact with each other just like strangers talking to each other. But one day, everything starts to change. I still remember that day. During that time, I just entered my second year at high school and Hiroshi entered his first year at high school. That day, our parents took us hiking. Hiroshi was so enthusiastic because this was his first time hiking. When hiking, everything was fine. Suddenly, as we were descending the mountain, Hiroshi and I slipped and fell. When we were sliding down, I did not let Hiroshi’s hand. After the fall, we both check ourselves for injuries while brushing some dirt on our cloth. My arm bore scraps and bruises. Unfortunately, Hiroshi hurt his leg. He can’t stand properly.

“Are you okay, Hiroshi?”

“Its… really hurt, neesan. I can’t stand properly.”

I tried to call my parents, but it’s not connected. What should I do now? Hiroshi hurt his leg. Sky slowly turns dark.

“Neesan, are you okay? “

“I am okay, Hiroshi!”

I should not let Hiroshi worry about me. As an older sister, I need to become stronger.

“Hiroshi!”

“What is it neesan?”

“We will try to find a way to go back from here!”

“But how neesan?”

“Do you have bring your torchlight? I forgot mine in the car earlier.”

“Here the torchlight.”

“Now lean on me!” I instructed, offering my shoulder for support.

“Lean on neesan?!”

“Faster!”

“Okay, neesan.”

“Hiroshi, if you feel hurt somewhere, you can tell me. We will walk slowly.”

“Alright.”

I lead the way with torchlight illuminating the path. We continued to walk until I found the sign for the resting spot. We decided to rest here first before continuing our journey. I did not realize it before, but I also hurt my ankle. I try to control my expression to hide the pain from Hiroshi.

“Are you okay, neesan?”

“I am okay, do you want to go now?”

“I think I can stand-“

“Be careful! Don’t need to act strong! Look, you can’t even stand properly now.”

“But I don’t want to become a burden to neesan!”

“We are family, right? So, don’t think about that you are burden to me again, okay? Just stay by my side is enough for me now.”

I try to comfort Hiroshi with my own words.

“Okay, neesan…”

I think today is not my day. The rain started to pour down.

“I think we need to stay here tonight, Hiroshi.”

“Why this rain suddenly started to pour down now?”

“Guess, we will wait longer. Hiroshi, I think this is first time we talk to each other for this long , right?”

“Yeah. I don’t know neesan was this cool person.”

“Why are you praising me now?”

“I don’t know what to say now. I just said what on my mind.”

“Is your leg, okay?”

“I still feel hurt, but it is much better than earlier. I don’t think I can participate soccer competition on next week.”

“You can take a rest for a week. If me, I will appreciate ‘free holiday’ that I get.”

“What are you saying? If dad know, he will be so angry hearing that.”

“Fine. By the way, Hiroshi, did you have girlfriend?”

“No. How about you neesan?”

“Yes! I think I have date five person until now.”

“Wow! I don’t know the rumor I heard at the school before is true.”

“You have heard about that right?”

“Yeah! But how you can date with many people?”

“I have secret line I will say to make their heart flutter.”

“What is it, neesan?”

“This is an example. What is the difference between that flower and you?”

“I don’t know.”

“That flower will wither and fate, maybe tomorrow or the next day after tomorrow. But you will continue to bloom in my heart!”

“I think you should not say that to your own brother. I almost skipped my heart just now.”

“Okay! I think the rain has stopped. Should we go now?”

“Yes!”

I try to stand but I lose my balance. My head feels heavy.

“Neesan, are you okay?! Please answer me!!”

I can’t heard what Hiroshi said just now.

My sight began to blur. Is this my hallucination? I feel I can heard dad’s voice calling Hiroshi and I.

When I open my eyes, I notice an unfamiliar ceiling.

“Where am I ?”

“You are at hospital, Hina.”

“Dad! Where is Hiroshi?”

“He in next room. Your mom is with him now. Do you feel anything weird on your body?”

“I am fine. How dad found us?”

“After both of you fell, your mom and I descended the mountain quickly and told the personnel. They organized a search and fortunately to find both of you at resting stop that near to mountain pass.”

“Thank you, dad! And I will thank mom and personnel later.”

“As long both of you are safe.”

The door suddenly opened.

“Neesan!”

“Hiroshi?”

He is walking toward me with a stand supporting him.

“You lying to me right, neesan? You said you were fine, but you also hurt your ankle. Why did you not tell me?”

“If I told you what you will do?”

“I will try to carry you.”

“With your leg? No way! My injury is not serious as yours. That’s why I try to hide my pain before.”

“But-“

“Hiroshi, we are family, right? Just stay by each other during hard time is enough for me.”

“I understand neesan.”

Since that day, my relationship with Hiroshi started to change. There are times when we go to the arcade together. We talk to each other about our worries, and we spend our time just like real siblings do. When I was diagnosed liver cancer earlier this year, mom never stopped crying and dad asked the doctor many times about my cancer as he can believe it happen to me.

“Neesan, I will always try to stay by your side.”

He said this to me many times. During golden week and summer break, he always came to visit me at the hospital.

“Hiroshi, don’t you want to spend your holiday with your friend?”

“They are busy now. Spend my holiday with neesan is enough for me.”

“Are you have sister complex?”

“No!! What are you talking about, neesan?”

Every time he visits me, he will play games with me. We also watch drama together.

“That’s all from me, thank you for listening to my story, Youta! Are you crying?”

I did not realize tears were falling from my eyes. Why does this happen to them? After what did they go through? If only they could always stay together forever. I wiped away my tears.

“I’m…. speechless….I have sister too but…. Your sibling relationship….with Hiroshi is….so beautiful to me. Why….my tears can’t… stop falling!”

“You make me want to cry too, Youta!”

I look at my smartphone and see the message sent by Takeda senpai.

“Hina, surprise guest finally here!”

“Who…?”