Shikimori's POV

After a week of studying, Saturday has come. As it is now the afternoon, the weather is still hot and humid under the orange-dyed sky. Summer is getting closer, and that is one of its first signs. In hot weather like this, getting yourself engulfed in the cool air of the mall certainly is not a bad idea, is it? That's what I have decided to do this afternoon, like any other people, I believed that was a good way to do something, and to get myself busy apart from studying for the semester exam, because I also have a plan I need to do. It's not like I am way too into entertainment rather than revising and getting some lessons in my head...

... Or at least that's what I thought because unfortunately, I am also stuck with someone today...

"Why would you even come with me, brother?" I asked my brother, who was accompanying me in the mall as I groaned tiredly.

"Huh? Why did you even ask about that?" He replied. "Isn't it good to have some brother-sister bonding time sometimes?" He asked me back.

"B-But I didn't even... God...!"

I couldn't find a proper word to respond, so I looked up at the ceiling and groaned in dispirit once again. I start looking around me. It seems that I am not the only one with the idea, as the mall today is very crowded, with families and friends hanging out for different activities, or couples dating in this place, which makes me slightly jealous and hope that I can do that for some time soon with... well, you-know-who.

While my brother is walking side by side with me, I start to regret announcing to him that I was heading out for today. I should have lied that I would be going with Hachimitsu and Neko for a chance that he would not ask to go with me. And now, it looks like I am locked with him for the rest of the afternoon.

"Didn't I tell you that it was just going to be a small shopping? You don't have to worry about me, it's gonna be quick..." I told him.

"Fine, fine, whatever..." He tried to dodge the subject. "I just want to spend my free time with my little sister. Don't be bothered by me!"

Well, sir, of course, I am bothered! Can't you see how many people are looking at us, thinking that we are some sort of couple on a date?!

Even so, explaining to him any further might make my head burst, since he is not gonna listen, as always. Therefore, I try to sweep that away and just keep silent on my track, ignoring anything he may say next.

'Izumi-san, to be honest, if you want to have a brother, or your family wants to adopt a second child, I will kindly hand him to you without any condition...'

As that thought came to my head, I let out a sigh and didn't realize that I had reached the bookstore inside this shopping mall, the destination where I was heading to. As I said, I have a plan for today and this is the perfect time to carry it out.

"Okay, this is new..." I heard the voice of my brother. "I thought you were buying some clothes like last time."

Just stay calm, relax, and don't reply...

Without any response, I walk inside the bookstore and look around. Trying to pass my eyes off the customers and unnecessary book sections, I try to look for the correct shelves with the genre I need, which is written on the board hanging on the ceiling. And so, it does not take so long until I have found what I need.

The "Medical" section.

I immediately walk to the shelves for the books of that genre and take out my phone. After turning it on, I scroll through the screenshots I have taken until I find the screenshot of the book info I saved earlier. As the purpose of this shopping afternoon, this is the book I need to find.

While I was constantly searching for the book I needed and looking at my phone screen, I didn't realize that my brother had approached me unexpectedly. All I could hear was some footsteps that I thought it was someone else's.

"... Since when you have cared so much about medical kinds of stuff?" He whispered behind me, making me gasp from the sudden shock, but I soon covered my mouth, not to let any noise come out. "You want to prepare for your future career path?"

"First of all, don't say that out of a sudden!" I warned him while keeping my volume down. "Secondly, I am trying to concentrate! Don't bother me!" I told him, however, seeing him nodding his head pretending like he would do what I say only made me a bit angrier.

"You know what? If you want to be helpful, help me find this book, please!" I told him while showing him the screenshot displayed on my phone screen.

"... Okay, just leave that to..."

My brother was about to say something when suddenly he stopped and took a closer look at the screen. Perhaps having something in his mind, he holds his chin and gives a few nods with a smirk on his face. Seeing his face like that just makes me want to lose my mind, but I take a deep breath and try to keep calm, before resuming my searching task.

It is not easy to search for the book I need, however. There are books with different subjects placed on different shelves and rows, some with the titles printed on the spine with such small font sizes that I cannot even read them well without taking them out. I start cursing myself for leaving my glasses at home. At this point, this might take forever to find the correct one, as I let out a tiring sigh.

Book publishers, please don't do this ever again...!

... *Bonk!*

"Geez! What was that for?!" I turned around and scolded my brother, who I assumed had hit me in the head with something hard. The hit was light, but because of the object's weight, it was painful enough to make me cover my head and grit my teeth in pain, as I try not to squeal any noise to disturb any customer nearby.

After getting back my composure, I soon realize that he is handing me something that looks like a book. I quickly snatch that from his hand and take a closer look. The title seems to be correct, but I need to be 100% sure, so I double-check the book while comparing it to the one on my screen. And with that, I can confirm that it is the one I need. There is no doubt about that.

'Lung Cancer Guide: What you and your patient need to know.'

"That's the one you need, right?" My brother asked, but I didn't want to say anything at first. Instead, I give him a nod as my response.

"This one seems to be a best-selling book. Do you know why they put it that high?" He asked me again, but this time, without waiting for my answer, he gave it, nonetheless. "It's because they want to give it as much attention as possible, and also not to let children grab and give it any possible damage."

"And what is that supposed to mean?!"

I had a feeling that the second part was aiming at me, so I asked him back while shooting him a glare, but he didn't seem to budge, since he just returned with his smirk, instead. Despite that, I don't want to get it any further trouble, so I ignore him and flip the book cover to check the price behind it. And I am not gonna lie, this one really is expensive.

"Do you need me to pay for it, little sis?" He asked me.

"No, thanks! I've already had my money, you know? I can pay for it..." I immediately answered him while shoving my hand in my sweater's pockets, trying to find my wallet, which I believed I had carried with me before going to the mall. "Pay... for... it..."

... And that's how I know I have forgotten my wallet at home...

I start looking around me, trying to find any possible solution, while looking at the time displayed on my phone. If I return home to find it, it will soon get late. I feel like a hopeless kid trying to find her parents when she realizes she has lost their tracks. I try to avoid my brother's gaze since I know he would just laugh at me like always because of the mistake I have made.

However, because of my instinct, I start turning to my brother without realizing so. And just as always, as expected, he shoots a grin on his face, which makes me blush from embarrassment and fury.

"Don't... you... dare...!" I tried to gather all my courage to warn him, but he didn't seem to care.

"Fine, fine, whatever..." He chuckled before reaching his hand in his pocket and taking out his wallet, before taking out some money inside and handing me the correct amount to pay for the book. "Is this enough?"

"Yeah!" I snatched the money out of his hand before checking it again, calculating carefully in my head. Being sure that the money is enough, I look up at his face, still with my furious expression. "Now if you don't mind, just go outside and wait for me!"

"Why? Do you have any-"

"Go!"

I quietly shouted at my brother, to which he responded with a headshake and raised his arms like he was held at gunpoint. I know it was rude to do so, but my mind was already somewhere else that I couldn't control my action. Even so, he obeys me and goes out of the bookstore, and I assume that he will be waiting for me outside.

Holding his money and the book in my hand, I temporarily shove them into my pocket, before letting out a sigh and slapping my cheeks slightly with my palms to blame myself for being rude. However, since it is getting late, I walk to the counter and proceed to pay for the book, thanks to my brother's cash.

I might have to apologize to him later, though...

~0O0~

"Brother! Hey, brother! Where are you?!"

When I stepped out of the bookstore, my brother was nowhere to be seen. Surrounding me is only the passing crowds, perhaps going somewhere else or heading home. Therefore, I tried to call for him, hoping to get any possible signal from him, but it was no use. I am now standing dumbfounded in the middle of this floor without anyone accompanying me.

... Please don't say that he has been kidnapped! Damn it! I don't want to find and drag him back again like my little brother-

"Hey, little sis!"

A familiar voice echoed behind me, seemingly calling for me. I turn around to see my... dumb big brother waving for me, with the other hand holding an interesting plastic bag. Having found him in peace, my legs immediately start dashing at him without me noticing.

"There you are!" I exclaimed in anger. "Where have you been?!" I scolded him, ignoring the fact that this had caught the attention of some people nearby.

"... Oh wow... I've just gone for just a few seconds and my little sister has already missed me...?"

"Who the hell miss you?!"

I shouted at him because of his attitude, when he was just standing there grinning amusedly. However, I know that he will not feel regretful, so I just bite my anger and grip the plastic bag containing the book tighter, trying to hold it in. I turn my attention to the plastic bag my brother is holding in his hand, wanting to know what makes him being gone without me noticing.

"Mind explaining to me what this is?" Having kept calm, I pointed at the plastic bag in his hand.

"Oh, this?" He held it up before surprisingly handing it to me. "I bought this for you. Taiyaki."

"... Seriously? This makes you gone for that long?!" I stood with an arm akimbo, disbelieving the fact that I was abandoned for this long just for a Taiyaki.

"You must be hungry, right? Here, take this." He said while handing it closer to me.

"But I'm not-" I was about to protest when a sudden sound of my stomach growling interrupted our conversation. I start covering it with my arms while blushing red on my face, and I get awarded with the giggling from my brother. Perhaps the walk from my home to here has drained some of my energy, so this is my stomach's final warning to refill it.

"Come on, just take this... For your big brother's sake?" He tried to convince me again. I really want to protest against it, but any time I tried to speak, my stomach just growled to stop me, so I am in a situation where I don't have any choice left.

"... F-Fine!" I decided to give in and snatch the plastic bag from his hand. He must be very amused when he returns me with his usual smirk, which irritates me. Nonetheless, this trip to the mall has been long and tiring, so he might be right, I might need to refill my energy at this point, or else I may not be able to return home.

"L-let's just find somewhere to take a break, okay?"

~0O0~

We stopped by a café in the mall for a break. When we finally had a sit at one of the tables, I placed the bag containing the book I had bought on it, before unwrapping the bag of Taiyaki received from my brother. There is a paper bag inside, containing the Taiyaki, and as soon as the plastic bag is unwrapped, I was welcomed with the scent of baked cake, combined with the sweet scent of red beans. Although I really don't fond of sweet food, since my stomach is still growling quietly, I have no choice but to savor the fish-shaped cake.

Before turning away from my brother, I realized that he was having his attention on my plastic bag which was placed on the table. Witnessing his curiosity taking over as he is reaching his hand to the bag, I quickly snatch the bag away and place it on my lap, before avoiding my brother's gaze once again.

Having seen that, he just shrugs his shoulders and says nothing, letting me enjoy my meal, which I am glad he does so.

If I had to confess, I would say I am not lucky to have a normal family like anybody else. Me and my brother are under my mom's care. Growing up, I don't have or get to feel any fatherly figure. I don't know what happened to my real father, since mom hasn't talked to or even mentioned him until now. I rarely have a chance to have a proper family meal, as my mom isn't always home. Recently, she's been working more than usual, so we have to take care of each other as brother and sister.

Sometimes, I... envy my friends for having normal families...

"So... How is that kid going?" While I was chewing the cake, my brother suddenly asked.

"... Izu- He's fine." I blankly answered. "That's... none of your business, though..."

"What do you mean 'none of my business?" He asked surprisingly. "He's my little sis' boyfriend! Of course I have to care about that! What if he did something to you?!"

"God damn it, he would never do something wrong to me! Can you stop being so curious?!" I shot back at my brother, which jolted him a little bit. "Geez..."

I sighed thinking back on what I did, then looked at my brother just to check his reaction, only to see him chuckling and shaking his head, which I was slightly relieved that he didn't mind about it. Therefore, I resume my eating task and just let it slide.

My brother... I don't want to use the word "overprotective", but I think now is the right time to use it. Back when we were young, my brother was actually the one who took care of me the most, especially when my mom was not there because of her job. It was not so bad, at first, but as I am growing up, this has been getting more annoying. I have tried to show him that I don't need his care like before, but it still didn't work!

Recently he's been caring for me more, which is, to be honest, more frustrating than you thought. This has reached the point where he starts treating me like his little sister, the "taking care of 8-year-old kids" style, not "18-year-old ones" if you know what I mean. After the night that Izumi-san had a sleepover at my home, this has become even more significant, as he starts caring more about my boyfriend and my relationship with him. Maybe the absence of a fatherly figure has led to the build of his personality...

"I'm glad that you still care about him, though..."

"... What do you mean?" His sudden question caught me by surprise.

"I mean... That book," He explained. "You bought it for the sake of him, right?"

"Yeah, it's true," I answered coldly. "Congrats for figuring that out. Do you need a medal for that?"

"Do you have one, though?"

I feel like going too deep into this subject with him will only make me smack my head on this wooden table, so I choose to ignore him and just enjoy the Taiyaki as I did.

However, what my brother said was true. Izumi-san is suffering from lung cancer, and knowing how much pain he is bearing deep inside, I understand that I have to be by his side and do anything I could for him, especially because of the incident that involved Kamiya. I feel that even if I was there, I would not be able to help much because of my lack of knowledge of the disease and how to execute it properly when it happened. Hence, I decided to find and buy this book, for me and Izumi-san.

Truth to be told, though, this is not the only book I bought. Yes, technology has improved a lot, and I know the existence of E-books. I have bought and downloaded a bunch of copies of books similar to this genre and subject. However, even with how deep I have dug, I didn't manage to find the digital version of this specific book. This leads to this trip to the mall to find it, and also leads to me sticking with my brother for the rest of the afternoon.

But after all, this is the responsibility of a girlfriend... right?

"You still didn't buy any clothes? Aren't you having a date with him tomorrow?" My brother asked after a few minutes of silence.

"First of all... I've already had... enough stuff... in my wardrobe..." I answered him while chewing, also trying to avoid not to choke on the cake. Having finished the first sentence, I quickly swallow what's left in my mouth and continue. "Secondly, I am not having a date with him tomorrow. He's having a medical check this Sunday."

"Really? That's good! Hope they can help him get better soon!"

It's been more than a week since I received the news about Izumi-san's condition. Since then, I've been trying to help him with all of my power. I helped him relieve the stress in his head with a date after the sleepover. I helped him confess to our friends about his disease so it could lift away the weights on his shoulders, well, or to be honest, I didn't do much and just let him carry it out on his own. And I also helped him sort things out with Kamiya, which resulted in my soring ankle. Thankfully though, it is recovering faster than I expected.

Even so, there are still a lot of things bothering my mind. One of them is the medical check he is having tomorrow. What if the hospital isn't providing him enough service? What if he is not meeting the doctor who gives him enough care? What if his condition is worse than we thought, that it will require him to quit school for good just for medical treatment for the rest of his life? And what if he leaves me-

*Rub* *Rub*

"Can you stop rubbing my head?! You are messing my hair up!" I complained to my brother, who suddenly was doing so while I was in the middle of my thought.

"You seem to stop eating for a while and just staring at nowhere." He answered. "Is there something bothering you?"

Well, besides you, then yes, there is something else bothering me...

"Are you worried about that kid's medical check tomorrow?"

He asked me, and perhaps brothers and sisters really do have psychic power, like he could read my mind, as it hit me right in the black heart.

"... Yeah," I answered him, perhaps because of my sister's instinct that made me do so. "I don't know what can happen tomorrow. I don't know if his health will be okay or if it will turn out to be much worse than we thought..." I confessed. "Also, why am I talking to you about this? That's not your problem, after all..."

Normally when you confess something like that, you can expect your older brother or sister to comfort you or say something like "don't worry, everything will be fine", right? Well, that's not the case with my older brother, as he starts chuckling again, which makes me a little bit mad.

"What?! What's so funny?!" I asked him annoyingly.

"No, nothing! It's just..." He said while his chuckle was slowly turning into laughter. However, he soon tries to be calm and continue. "It's just kind of funny that you're so overly worried about that. He's just getting a medical check, not getting on a battlefield, my little sis..."

Well, now you're making me feel as much pressure as getting on a battlefield, my big brother!

"Besides, whatever happens, I know he is already ready to up against it. I talked to him, I know he is a strong kid." He continued.

"Yeah, because you forced him to persuade you not to make me break up with him, right?" I ironically told him that.

"Hmm? No, why would I do that? I would never do that..."

Even how untrustful that sounds coming out of his mouth, I still have no clue what they talked about when Izumi-san was having a sleepover with me. However, hearing words from my brother, having heard his confirmation and his "comfort", maybe a few weights have been lifted off my head. It is unbelievable to say this, but I feel less worried about Izumi-san, about what he is doing tomorrow now. Since I have no clue what he and my older brother spoke about that night, all I can do is have high hope that my brother also accepted our relationship, just like my mom.

But yeah, once again, this time you really have proven that you can be a good brother figure to me. Hence, I have to thank you for that, big brother!

"So... what did you and he talk about, big bro?"

"Hmm... yeah, I've forgotten about that."

"What?!"

"Sorry, little sis. Guess you have to ask him about that next week..."

~0O0~

Almost an hour has passed, and we are still stopping by the café in the mall. In the meantime, we have ordered two cups of coffee while we are here. The smoky, nutty aroma of black coffee is lingering around this small but cozy place. While we are waiting, well, mostly for me to finish the Taiyaki, I look out the windows and observe the people outside.

Seeing families passing by, kids hand in hand with their parents, makes me think about how it would feel to be in a real family, the one that includes a mom, a dad, and one or perhaps two or more children. How it would feel to have a caring motherly love, and how it would feel to have a warm father figure by your side, are something that is still lingering in my mind to this day.

What do I have as people who are closed to me? Maybe it's my best friends Neko, Hachimitsu, and Kamiya? Izumi-san is someone who is closed to me, too, more than just a boyfriend. Can I call him my family member, though? That sounds a little bit far, doesn't it?

Still, with those thoughts in my mind, I take a bite of the Taiyaki and a sip of the coffee on the table. Although I am really not fond of sweet food, the sweetness of red beans actually goes well with the bitterness of black coffee, which makes me glad that we have made the right choice of ordering this beverage.

Nonetheless, I take a glance at my brother, who is reading something on his phone to buy some time. I still owe him an apology for being rude earlier, though. Therefore, looking back at the half-eaten Taiyaki in my hand, I think I have figured out a way to apologize.

"... Yeah, what's up?" He lifted his face from his phone and asked me when I nudged his arm to get his attention. Without saying anything, I hand him the half-eaten Taiyaki.

"... What the hell?" He asked with his raised eyebrows.

"What do you mean by that?!" I retorted after hearing his reaction. "Here, for you! Take it!" I exclaimed while handing him the cake closer.

"Are you mad?! I'm not gonna eat your leftover!"

"So you're not gonna have it?!"

"Of course! Have the rest of it!"

"Fine! Nothing for you, then!"

I pull the Taiyaki away from him and turn my back against him. I really want to apologize, but if my brother still keeps his hard, bull-headed brain then there is no way I can sort this out. This situation has turned awkwardly bad, and I am running out of solutions to do.

I think I may have whole new respect for Izumi-san, for his way of sorting out conflicts at this point.

Perhaps my brain has figured out something on its own, something stupid, though, as I unnoticeably split the half-eaten Taiyaki in two and nudge my brother's arm once again. As he looks at me with his usual confused expression, I hand him the other half of the split Taiyaki.

"I've told you! I'm not eating your leftover-"

He tried to protest once again, but I couldn't do anything else except shove the whole half Taiyaki into my mouth and look at him from just the corner of my eye while having puffy cheeks from chewing since I couldn't say any word while eating. Seemingly giving in to my effort, he reluctantly takes the other half from my hand and eats it whole.

"Sometimes... you really are a bother..." He said between his chewing.

"... Say who?"

I turn away from him and continue my sightseeing, with my hand holding and supporting my chin. As more families arrived and left the mall, the fantasy of having a real family keeps running in my head. This has come too far that I start imagining I am in a church, in a wedding dress, with my "father" holding my hand to go inside the hall, where Izumi-san in his tuxedo is waiting inside. However, I know where this is going, so I just shake my head furiously to brush it away while blushing red. It's too early, Shikimori, too early for that...

However, I take a glance at my brother once again, who has returned his eyes to his phone while his mouth is still chewing. Although I don't have an actual family, I still have a caring one. Mom cares a lot about us, with the evidence that she is working very hard until night today again. And while my brother is a big nuisance, I can feel that he cares a lot about me, specifically when he asks about my friends, and especially about my boyfriend and my relationship with him, although, still being honest, I just find that to be a pain in my neck, as I don't want to get involved too deep into that.

However, as I take another sip to finish the coffee cup, I start reminiscing what happened on this little trip to the mall. I brush my finger slightly on the book cover, which is still on my lap, and let out a sigh myself.

Perhaps... I am still the lucky one. And maybe Izumi-san was right, it is not bad to have an older brother...

I turn to my brother, who seems to have finished the coffee himself since he starts stuffing his phone in the pocket of his jacket. He gives himself a few stretches before proceeding to stand up from the chair, which I also do the same. "Ready to go home?" He asked me.

"... Yeah."

I gave him a quick answer, as we proceeded to take our leave from the café and end this Saturday afternoon, as the sky is getting dark, dyed with a darker shade of color from its orange one...

"Hey, big bro?"

"Yeah?"

"Since it is not too late, why don't we buy some food in the meantime to cook for mom when she gets home?"

"You want to poison her with your terrible cooking skill? Nah, no way!"

"I have improved! I don't need your help! You can get your 'a' upstairs and wait, then!"

"And let you do what you want? That's too dangerous... for mom."

"You... I... Argh!"

Yeah, Izumi-san was wrong. It is absolutelyterrible to have an older brother...!