As I’ve been listening to Azusa’s story, I suddenly thought.
Am I too good a person in her eyes?
I should be more human than Azusa thinks.
“Also, think about it the other way around. If Azusa were to get married? I probably wouldn’t immediately accept her chosen partner, right?”
“……Huh?”
When I voiced this thought, Azusa opened her mouth wide, as if caught off guard.
As if she were completely surprised.
“Of course, I’ll make an effort to accept them since it’s someone Azusa chose… but because she’s my only sister, I think I’d definitely be cautious, wondering if she got involved with a ‘bad guy.’ So, isn’t Azusa having a hard time accepting Shiho similar?”
If the ‘me’ Azusa perceives would genuinely rejoice in her sister’s happiness, but I’m not that developed as a person.
“Even so, because it’s someone Azusa chose, I’ll probably accept them somehow… but I might cry at the wedding and if that guy cheats, I’ll probably punch him.”
…As I said it, I realized.
I seem to care about Azusa more than I thought.
“I love you, Azusa… You’re the only family I’ve had, always together. I think I wish for your happiness more than anyone else.”
After conveying this, I lightly patted her head.
Of course, this was an unconscious action… and after doing it, I couldn’t help but smile.
“I probably also have a sister complex… doing such embarrassing physical contact, I guess that’s what I am.”
I wasn’t aware of it.
Or rather, speaking of it… is this a complex?
“No, things like brother complex or sister complex don’t matter. Anyway, Azusa is an important person to me, and that won’t change just because she’s getting married. From now on, Azusa will always be an important family member to me.”
In other words, … what she’s worrying about is a trivial matter.
“Our relationship won’t change. If you do something wrong, I’ll scold you, if you’re in trouble, I’ll help, if you’re suffering, I’ll be by your side… no, that’s not it. From now on, there might be one more person who will do that for you. Shiho will probably cherish Azusa too.”
Because she is, after all, her Onee-chan (self-proclaimed).
For Azusa’s sake, she’ll surely do her best.
“So, don’t say it’s the last time… If you want to argue a lot from now on, go ahead. We don’t need to clearly separate our relationship like this because we’re not becoming strangers, right?”
…That’s my true feeling.
Even if Azusa gets married, the fact that she and I are siblings won’t change.
We may not share the same blood, but we’ve always been together like this.
“Spouses become strangers if they divorce… but siblings are forever ‘siblings’. No matter what happens, I won’t abandon you and will watch over you. Until Azusa becomes happy… until the person who makes you happy appears, feel free to rely on your meddlesome big brother until then.”
Until Azusa gets married, I’ll be the interfering big brother.
I’ll accept whatever happens, support, and continue being a big brother who can protect her.
“So, don’t cry… I want you to see me off with a smile.”
By the time I said this, Azusa seemed unable to hold back anymore.
“I-I’m not crying!”
While pretending to be strong, she rubbed her eyes.
But large tears traced down her cheeks and fell onto the bed.
As if comforting her, I absentmindedly patted her head… and I couldn’t help but laugh at myself doing it unconsciously.
