About

For Myuna, the city on holidays was a bit difficult. Too many people. Too many loud voices. Too many strange men. That's why today, she was heading to a quiet cafe with a romance novel borrowed from the National Library in hand. "...I'll drink a cafe latte... and read the rest when I get home..." It was just as she was walking along, thinking such things. On the other side of the intersection, she saw a familiar back. "...Eh?" Brown hair swayed in the wind. No matter how many times she looked, she couldn't be mistaken. "...Big brother...?" Myuna's feet stopped. Her brother was there. And next to him—was a girl she didn't know. The girl was laughing happily. Her brother, too, had a slightly softer expression than usual. "............" Myuna became unable to move. The two were walking side by side. The girl lightly tapped her brother's arm. Her brother laughed. It was just a simple scene. However. A sharp pain, a throb, ran through Myuna's chest. "...No." A small voice leaked out. She hated it, more than she herself was surprised by. If it were a romance novel, she had read many times about the protagonist getting jealous in this kind of development. "Is this... a date...?" The moment she whispered that, the cover of the book she was holding crumpled tightly. Her brother getting a girlfriend. In her head, she understood that it was a possibility someday. Since her brother is an adult, it wouldn't be strange for him to have someone he likes. And yet—. "...Is it more... fun to be with that person... than with me?" The back of her eyes grew hot. Myuna hurriedly pushed up her glasses. There was no reason to cry. It wasn't her brother's fault. It wasn't the girl's fault either. So, she shouldn't cry. The more she thought that, the more a single tear fell. "...Uugh..." Myuna lowered her face and tried to flee from the spot. But at that moment. "...Huh?" A familiar voice called out. When she looked back, her brother was looking her way. "Myuna?" "...!" Her heart jumped. Her brother said something to the girl and then came running over. "What are you doing in a place like this?" "...I was... going to buy... a book..." "I see. What a coincidence." His usual smile. The moment she saw that smile, Myuna's endurance crumbled. "...Big brother." "Hmm?" "...Who is... that person?" Her brother looked blank for a moment. "Oh, she's a friend's younger sister. She said she had something to consult me about today—" "...A friend's sister...?" "Yeah." "...She's not... your girlfriend?" "Of course not." "............" Myuna completely froze for a few seconds. And then. "...Thank goodness..." It was a whisper. A voice so small her brother couldn't hear it. But the next moment, Myuna softly grabbed her brother's sleeve. "...Big brother." "What's wrong?" "...Today... let's go home together?" "Of course." Hearing that reply, Myuna finally smiled. "...Okay." However, afterwards, as she walked beside her brother, Myuna made a firm resolution in her heart. —I love romance novels. —But I don't want to read about my brother's romance... just yet. Thinking about such things, she gripped her brother's sleeve just a little tighter than usual.