Chapter 137: Goodnight

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Translator: Soafp

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[Momo PoV]

The second floor—just up the stairs, right there.

This was Ayano’s father’s room, filled with books.

Icchi had already pulled a guest futon from the bedroom and laid it out, along with the pillow he brought with him, which was from his own collection.

Apparently, Icchi couldn’t sleep without his usual pillow.

“This is your room, Toumachi-kun.”

“Thank you… Excuse me…”

“Haha, if you’re that tense, you won’t be able to sleep, you know.”

“It feels so weird to have a futon in this room!”

“Well, that’s because Dad usually sleeps in our bedroom with us.”

“Oh, I figured as much.”

“Well, then… good night…”

The door gently clicked shut behind him, and Icchi's presence faded from view. With that, Ayano and I headed to the nearby bedroom.

Huuu…

A small nightlight dimly illuminated the space as we moved to our futons.

Kanon’s gentle breathing signaled that she was already deep asleep. She didn't seem like she'd wake up until morning, and there was no way she'd wander into Icchi's room, right? Right?

“Huuu…”

“They really do sleep like twins…”

As soon as Ayanon lay down, she was out like a light, too. 

It wasn't just from the dance class earlier—this was how she always was. She'd just shut down, like a battery running out. 

And she’d sleep soundly till morning, never waking up. No wonder she never seemed to have a sleepless night. 

The two of them, lying there with their similar, well-formed faces, looked so peaceful. After a while, I turned off the little light.

Wrapped in the comfort of the futon, I closed my eyes. 

I'd spent plenty of nights in this room since middle school, but…

“Ugh… hmmm…”

I couldn't fall asleep.

It wasn't that the futon was uncomfortable, or that there was any noise. 

We'd had dance practice in gym today, so I wasn't lacking in exhaustion either.

“…”

Maybe… I'm just a little thirsty? Why now, though?

I reached for my phone and used the light from the screen to guide my steps, careful to avoid making any noise. Quietly, quietly, I slipped down to the first floor. There was the light switch… there we go.

Click.

“Water…”

With the room lit up, I found my way to the fridge and grabbed my bottle of mineral water. I took a big gulp. 

It was starting to feel like this was my own house.

[—”Oh, that’s ‘Mountain’s Bounty.’ It’s good, right?”—]

Come to think of it, Icchi's kind of a mineral water enthusiast, isn't he? I remember his house had stacks of bottled water everywhere.

He even knew the flavors of every brand of mineral water.

[—”You think water doesn't have flavor? Well, actually, the water we drink has minerals like calcium and magnesium in it. Those affect the taste. In Japan, we mainly drink soft water, which has fewer minerals, so it goes down smoothly. On the other hand, hard water, which has more minerals, has a distinct texture—people either love it or hate it. So, while it's not like saltiness or sweetness, there’s a certain ‘taste’ unique to water itself…”—]

That conversation had been cut short when Kanon crashed into him. Icchi really is an odd one.

Which is why… I was so surprised when I saw his photo album earlier.

It was just… so normal. His family didn't have any outrageous hair colors or anything like that.

His mom and sister just had light brown hair, which was about the most unusual thing.

“…Oh.”

And there it was, sitting on the living room table.

Icchi hadn't put his album away. 

Earlier, he had flipped through it so fast that I didn't really get a good look. He was so embarrassed, but honestly, I'm probably not one to talk.

The picture of him with his sister caught my eye. 

It made me remember that phone call.

[—”Are you really friends with Hajime-Nii?”—]

[—”Sorry for the rudeness. I’d love to talk to you sometime.”—]

Her voice over the phone had been so mature—completely different from the way she talked to Icchi. 

I was shocked to learn she was just a middle schooler. When I was her age… it's embarrassing to even think about.

She's a bit prickly toward Icchi sometimes, but I guess that's just how siblings are? 

I wouldn't know—I'm an only child.

“…I've already seen some of it, so… it's fine, right?”

Alone in the spacious living room, I opened the album left carelessly on the table.

Photos of a boy with black hair, crying in front of a camera. 

A boy crying after falling during a race. 

A little boy turning his face away while holding his mother’s hand.

[—”Well, after this, it's mostly pictures of my little sister.”—]

Just as Icchi had mentioned, the photos began to dwindle. 

From here, they were almost entirely of his sister—a girl with light brown hair.

But, there were still some of him.

“Ah…!”

In one, a boy sat alone, unaware of the camera. 

He was busy working on something that looked like homework—maybe elementary school, probably upper grades?

Next to that, there was a picture of his sister, surrounded by friends, making peace signs. 

Naturally, he wasn't in that picture.

“…This one too.”

Another photo of the boy alone, this time reading a book. 

Next to that, a picture of what seemed like a birthday party with friends gathered around his sister.

The contrast was stark. 

Like day and night. 

Like the sun and the shadows.

The sister, always shining. 

The brother, always in the shadows.

As I turned the pages, there were no more pictures of the two of them together. 

Maybe those photos were in another album, but—

“!”

But at the very end of this album, there was something strange—a gap, as if a photo had been carefully removed from the center of the page.

“—Hatsune-san, you’re still awake?”

“Wah!”

“Are you okay?”

“Y-yeah, I’m fine.”

I heard his voice from behind me. 

When I turned around, there was Icchi, standing there in his pajamas.

“I can't find my phone anywhere. I set an alarm, but it's somewhere in this house for sure.”

“Haha~ That would definitely be a problem.”

He spoke kindly, his usual gentle tone for Kanon-chan. 

I picked up the phone sitting right in front of me.

“Yeah, I really can't wake Kanon up at 5 AM, right? Uh…”

“Isn't this your phone, Icchi?”

“Oh, uh, yeah, thanks.”

Icchi’s eyes were darting around, unable to settle. 

He kept glancing between my pajamas and… everywhere else.

Don’t look at me like that. It's embarrassing. 

Though, I admit, it makes me a little happy.

“Ah, the album… Hatsune-san, you used to have long hair, huh?”

“Huh? Surprised?”

“N-not really. It's just that you've always had short hair, so I didn't expect it.”

“Haha, yeah, I had long hair until midway through middle school… then I just chopped it all off.”

“Really?”

Back then, I matched my hair with Ayano’s. 

But one day, I started comparing myself to her and… impulsively cut it off.

It was convenient for basketball, anyway, so I didn't regret it.

“People were joking, saying stuff like ‘Did you go through a breakup?'”

“Haha, yeah, that's what people usually say when someone suddenly cuts their hair.”

“Yeah… Is it weird?”

“Not at all. Honestly, Hatsune-san's short hair just fits. It suits you.”

“…Thanks.”

Back then, I got teased a lot, but if Icchi says it suits me, then maybe cutting it wasn't so bad after all.

I found myself playing with the ends of my short hair.

“…To me, Icchi's rainbow hair is your signature look. But, your family doesn't know about it, right?”

“Yeah. Honestly, I have no idea what to do about that.”

“I-I think—”

“Hmm?”

“I think your rainbow hair looks great… So, if your family gives you a hard time, I'll be here to support you.”

“Really? You mean it?”

“Y-yeah.”

If it helps him… if it makes him feel better… 

I’ll do anything I can.

Because he's a dear friend. And before he disappears again, I want to be there for him.

“Thank you. I'm counting on you.”

His voice echoed in the quiet of the night. 

There was something different about him tonight, and now, I couldn't help but really see it.

“Y-yeah.”

I knew I shouldn't be thinking about it, but I couldn't stop myself. 

It was the first time I'd seen him in such a vulnerable state—just wearing his pajamas. 

The glimpse of his collarbone peeking out from the neckline, his bare feet visible under his pants without socks. 

Parts of Icchi I'd never seen before.

“Well, goodnight, Hatsune.”

“…Yeah. Goodnight.”

He was going to sleep under the same roof as me tonight. 

Not even 10 meters away—just a short walk and he'd be there. 

All I'd have to do is open the door and—

There he would be, in that defenseless state, lying down. 

Alone. 

For the whole night, he would be here.

“Goodnight…”

I said it again, but tonight, I knew I wouldn't be able to truly rest.

“…”

As I watched his back disappear up the stairs, I realized just how strange I'd been acting.

“I need… water.”

I reached for the fridge again. 

Right now, I needed something cold. 

Something chilled, because I finally understood why my throat was dry.