Chapter 12
I entered university and joined the choir club, one of its oldest and most prestigious circles.
Since I’d already been in choir in high school, joining didn’t feel strange at all.
My family has its share of problems, but when I’m outside in the world, I’m free.
My heart leapt at this new world called university life.
“Rinne, I heard you joined the choir club?”
“Yeah. Satomi, have you picked a club yet?”
“Mmm, not yet. I went to a tennis club’s welcome party since it looked fun, but the vibe there… ugh. It was obvious they were only after one thing, so I left right away.”
“I see. You can’t tell just from a club’s name, huh.”
“Exactly. They were trying to force underage students to drink, and the guys kept staring at me… just at my chest, you know.”
“Ugh, that kind of gaze from guys is gross. Don’t they realize how sensitive girls are to that?”
The one talking to me is Yushima Satomi, who went to the same high school as I did.
Our school was a private academy that went from kindergarten all the way to high school.
Satomi and I entered from the kindergarten division, so we’d been together through elementary, middle, and high school.
“Satomi, do you want to join the choir club too?”
“Mmm, I like singing, but actually singing in a club is a little different, I think. I’m not that good, and besides—at 18 you can get an Explorer’s License, right? So I’m thinking of going into dungeons.”
Satomi was the ace of the volleyball team in middle and high school.
She’s 175 cm tall, with a bright, open personality that earned her lots of same-gender fans.
“You’re going to be an explorer? Isn’t that dangerous?”
“Well, it probably pays better than a part-time job. And dungeons are another world, right? I’ve always wanted to see one. Of course, I know it’s dangerous. But look at Kagurazaka Yuma—he’s a top-ranked explorer and still a university student. He’s rich and handsome, so if I become an explorer my chances of meeting him go way up.”
This is the first time I’d heard Satomi say she wanted to be an explorer.
Sure, dungeons do seem to make money, but it’s a life-risking job.
Every year, people who dream of striking it rich die there.
“Satomi, dungeons are dangerous. You really shouldn’t.”
“I’ll be fine. I don’t want to die either. I won’t do anything reckless.”
Satomi’s the type who won’t back down once she’s decided something.
Even if I tell her no, she’ll probably become an explorer anyway.
There were other friends from our high school at this university too, but different departments meant our schedules rarely lined up.
And my best friend Katō Kyoko, who also joined the choir club, had something to do today and was absent.
“Oh, by the way, Shinozaki got a boyfriend. She was bragging to me.”
“Really? That’s fast.”
“I worry about girls like us who came from all-girls’ schools. We have no immunity to guys.”
“I’m not good with guys. Feels like their heads are filled with nothing but dirty thoughts.”
“Rinne, if you keep that up you’ll never get a boyfriend.”
“I don’t mind staying single forever. But… I might want a child.”
“That’s totally contradictory, you know. Hahaha.”
We laughed together as we headed to our next class.
Some elective classes are in different buildings, which is the only annoying part.
The choir club has a training camp at Lake Kawaguchi during Golden Week.
I should start getting ready soon.
The seniors said we should bring swimsuits, but it’s still cold—I don’t think we’ll have any chance to wear them.
“Oh yeah. Shinozaki was saying the Keimei Girls’ alumni are planning a girls’ party. You’ll come too, right, Rinne?”
“Really? Sure. I’ll tell Kyoko.”
“I figured you’d say that. I’ll let you know the time and place once it’s set.”
“Okay, sounds fun.”
And so I was enjoying my campus life.
Golden Week came, and the choir club held its annual training camp at Lake Kawaguchi.
I’d been nervous about the presence of guys, but everyone practiced seriously, and with the male parts added, our choir’s sound became much richer.
Midway through the camp, while we were having a barbecue for lunch, my phone rang.
“Oh, Rinne-chan.”
“What is it, Akane-san?”
“I tried calling your sister but couldn’t reach her.”
“Mom’s in Europe with her cooking-class friends.”
“I see. Rinne-chan, please listen calmly.”
A bad feeling ran through me.
If Akane-san was calling, it had to be about my younger brother, Kenichiro.
“They said Ken-chan was struck by lightning and taken to the hospital. He’s unconscious.”
“What!?”
No way…
“I’m heading to the hospital now. If you can reach your sister or Shinji-san, could you have them call me?”
“Y-yes, I understand.”
My hands were trembling as I held the phone after the call ended.
“Hey, Mikado-san, what’s wrong? You look pale.”
It was Tōdō Kazuki-senpai, a third-year, who spoke to me.
He’s an intelligent-looking guy with glasses who often keeps to himself; he seemed different from the other guys in the circle.
“My brother’s been in an accident and taken to the hospital…”
Sensing something was wrong, Kyoko—my best friend, who had been chatting happily at another table—rushed over.
“What happened, Rinne?”
“M-my brother… they said he was taken to the hospital. A relative just called me.”
“That’s terrible. You have to go right away.”
“B-but…”
I couldn’t face my brother.
I still couldn’t forgive what he’d done.
But the guilt of rejecting him in anger as family still gnawed at my heart.
“I’ll go with you. Then it’ll be fine, right?”
“Kyoko, I’m fine alone. Actually… I don’t plan to go to the hospital.”
“‘What!?’”
Both Kyoko and Tōdō-senpai were shocked at my words.
“Rinne, this is about what happened back then…”
“Yeah. I can’t face him. What kind of face am I supposed to make?”
Kyoko knew about my brother’s situation, so she couldn’t say more.
But then Tōdō-senpai said:
“You seem to have your reasons, but isn’t this a separate matter? I know it’s not my place to interfere in family issues, but can you truly say you won’t regret it if something happens to your brother? If you think there’s even a chance you’ll regret it, you should go. No matter the outcome, choosing the path with less regret is the right choice.”
Am I going to betray my brother again…
That whisper echoed in my head.
Of course I’d regret it.
I don’t want to go through that pain again.
I don’t want to betray him twice.
“I’ll go. I’m sorry for leaving in the middle of camp.”
“That’s nothing to worry about.”
“Yeah, Rinne. Don’t worry. I’ll come too.”
“No, I’ll go with her,” Tōdō said. “I had other plans after this barbecue anyway. I was going to leave soon.”
“Then, senpai, please take care of Rinne.”
“Wait, Kyoko. Don’t trouble Tōdō-senpai.”
“I’ve already packed. I’ll tell the club president. Mikado-san, you should pack too.”
“I’ll help you, Rinne.”
Pressed by Kyoko and Tōdō-senpai, I ended up leaving with him.
On the train with Tōdō-senpai…
“I’m sorry, making you do this for me.”
“Don’t worry. I really did have something to do.”
He tried to distract me with small talk.
He explained the book he was reading seriously but amusingly, and before I knew it, I was smiling.
“Senpai, what’s your errand?”
His friendly way of talking had drawn me in enough to ask about his private life.
“Well… I have two younger sisters. The younger one’s in middle school and has had a heart problem since she was little. She’s been in and out of the hospital. She just got permission for a short visit home, so I was heading back.”
I regretted asking such a heavy question so casually.
How thoughtless I was.
I always make the wrong choice at critical moments.
That’s why I hurt my brother…
“I’m sorry for prying…”
“It’s fine. Most of the circle knows. I wasn’t hiding it.”
He still cared about me.
He was kind, like my brother used to be.
“Senpai, can you listen to me?”
Taking advantage of his kindness, I told him about my brother, about my family.
Kyoko knows the story.
But now, I was scared.
What if my brother refused to see me at the hospital?
I didn’t know what I’d do.
“Hm… something sounds off in your story,” Tōdō said.
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t claim to understand your parents, but about your brother… there’s a contradiction.”
No one had ever said that before.
“You heard the story directly from the girl who was assaulted, right? Something doesn’t add up. Your brother was always gentle and treasured her. For him to suddenly beat her and act sexually violent… it’s hard to believe. Men do have sexual impulses, but an intelligent, kind person wouldn’t ruin everything in a moment of passion. Also, you said a soccer club senior saved her. But then she started dating him afterward, right? It’s not normal to suddenly hate someone you loved for years and fall for the guy who ‘saved’ you.”
Is that true?
Thinking about it, it is strange.
I’d believed it because of shoujo manga stories—girls falling for someone instantly.
“And it feels like your brother was set up. Like she and that senior carefully planned a script.”
“What do you mean?”
“My guess: either your brother or you saw the girl with the soccer senior. Your brother accused them in anger and got used by them. In the special social environment of a school, the words of a popular soccer player and a pretty girl carry more weight, even if it’s not true.”
What…
My brother isn’t violent.
I’ve known his personality since he was little.
And yet… did I fail to trust him?
Did I project the leering eyes of men in the city onto my own brother?
“This is only based on what you’ve told me. Only the people involved know the truth. If she lied and framed your brother, she’s in high school now, right? She’s probably dressed flashier, her personality twisted. But anyway, I’m sorry. I got carried away because I’ve heard a similar story. It was a biased opinion.”
Only they know the truth.
What had my brother shouted back then?
“I didn’t do it. I’d never hit her!”
He’d been yelling from his room.
I had heard him, but I prioritized the girl’s words.
Because she was crying.
I’d known her since we were kids, and I saw her tears and believed her.
I couldn’t forgive my brother for making a girl cry.
Maybe I didn’t care about the truth at all.
I was just like our parents.
They hated trouble more than they cared about truth.
Truth didn’t matter.
How foolish I was.
Whatever the truth, I should have trusted my brother.
As his sister. As his family.
“Senpai, I… I can’t go to the hospital after all. I’m not worthy to see him. I’m sorry…”
“I see. If that’s your choice, I won’t say more. And I’m sorry for saying so much.”
“Tōdō-senpai, please don’t apologize. I’m just a coward. Thank you for listening. Whatever the truth, I’ll find out properly and face my brother this time.”
Hearing that, senpai only closed his eyes without answering.
I’m sorry, Kenichiro.
I have to ask her again and find out the truth, or I can’t move forward.
God, please let Kenichiro be safe…
