"Since yesterday, you've seed really preoccupied, Nii-san."
Watching Tetsuya lean back on the sofa, silently staring at the ceiling, Anon couldn't help but look a little puzzled.
"What's wrong? Did you run into so trouble at work?"
"...No, it has nothing to do with work."
Tetsuya shook his head.
"At least, not yet."
"? What do you an?"
"...."
Tetsuya silently patted the spot next to him, signaling for Anon to sit there.
Seeing this, Anon obediently ca to his side.
"So what happened? The last ti I saw you with this expression was when we were talking about Hoshino Ai."
"..."
"Eh? So it's because of her again this ti?"
Faced with Tetsuya's noncommittal attitude, Anon's mouth fell slightly open.
"No way. Didn't you already figure things out after what happened last ti? Why are you still worrying about her now?"
"About that... it might be a little difficult to explain."
Tetsuya frowned.
"Instead of that, let ask you a question, Anon."
"Yes."
"The feeling of 'like'... what's the difference between that and familial love?"
"...Huh?"
Anon froze.
"Is this a philosophical question? Or are you giving a brain teaser?"
"No, I'm asking you in all seriousness."
Tetsuya's tone and expression were completely serious, with no hint of joking.
"I know that this feeling called 'like' exists between people of the opposite sex, but I've never known what it actually is."
At this, he showed a slightly bewildered expression.
"As far as my common knowledge goes, it seems the feeling of 'like' causes a couple to gradually develop into a married couple over ti, and eventually, it becos familial love. But I don't understand what happens during that process, or what the difference is between the feeling before and after."
"Oh boy..."
After listening to her brother's words in a daze, Anon let out a sound of utter confusion.
"Hold on, this is the first ti I've ever thought about this question so seriously. Let think for a second..."
Like, couple, familial love, married couple.
She first mulled over the relationship between these words in her mind before speaking with a thoughtful look on her face.
"Well, it's true that the feeling of 'like' can make two people beco a couple, but... to be honest, that feeling might not have any necessary connection to being a married couple..."
"Although it's a very happy thing to go from being a couple to a married couple, that's an ending that can only be achieved under ideal conditions. Most people have to date several tis before they can find the right partner for them, and there are also many people who get married by skipping the dating process and getting together for practical reasons!"
Tetsuya couldn't help but ask:
"So, you're saying that 'like' isn't... a condition for getting married?"
"Hmm... I wouldn't say that. Maybe the two of them do like each other when they get married, but a feeling like 'like' is usually hard to maintain forever."
Anon said, tapping her chin.
"Besides, the feeling of 'like' itself has many different types. In addition to liking soone of the opposite sex, there's the like between friends, the like between family mbers... and sotis they can transform into one another, so it's a very complex and changeable emotion."
"But familial love is different! Familial love only exists between family mbers. As long as you're family, that feeling will always naturally be there! It's completely different from a feeling like 'like,' which changes over ti!"
Anon said with a matter-of-fact tone.
"Is... that so?"
However, Tetsuya's reply was full of hesitation and confusion.
"If that's the case, then what about all of us children who were abandoned at the orphanage...?"
"Ah..."
Hearing this, Anon froze for a mont, then her expression softened with sympathy as she hugged Tetsuya's arm.
"I'm sorry, Nii-san... About that, it's a bit harsh to say, but... not every married couple has the kind of familial love that can last forever. The children in the orphanage are mostly the victims of those kinds of 'failed marriages'..."
"Failed marriages..."
Tetsuya thought for a mont before speaking.
"It seems the process of going from a couple to a married couple, and from a married couple to a family... isn't as straightforward as I thought."
"That's right."
Anon nodded.
"After all, once two people have been together for a long ti, they'll face all sorts of trials and challenges... But, if the two of them can continue to learn about each other during that process, and after completely understanding each other's thoughts, work together to overco those things, I'm sure they can beco a truly ideal family and be together forever, right?"
At this, she couldn't help but stick out her tongue.
"But I'm just talking. I've never been in a relationship in my life, and the only married couple I've ever known is Mom and Dad..."
"...Sa here."
Tetsuya sighed as well.
"During my ti at the orphanage, I was so focused on survival that I had no energy to think about such extra things. And after being adopted by the Chihaya family, in order to repay their kindness and achieve my own dreams, I never paid attention to anything besides my studies. Now I'm only just realizing that my common sense in this area is shockingly lacking."
"It's not just this, is it? You're pretty clueless in a lot of ways, Nii-san."
Anon hugged Tetsuya's arm a little tighter.
"But even so, your kindness and gentleness that co from the bottom of your heart will never change... and the bond between us as siblings will never change either! In other words, no matter what happens, I, Anon, will always be with you, Nii-san!"
"..."
Looking at Anon's young but determined and earnest face, Tetsuya couldn't help but reach out and stroke her hair.
"Thank you, Anon... too. No matter what happens, I will always be with you."
"Hehe..."
Anon let out a silly giggle after having her head patted, but she quickly realized another problem.
"By the way, what does this topic... have to do with Hoshino Ai?"
"...Mhm. According to another mber of her group, Misumi Uika, it seems she chose to beco an idol just so she could find ."
Under Anon's dumbfounded gaze, Tetsuya continued to explain.
"And, it seems she... already liked seven years ago, and that feeling has lasted until now. And next, in order to be with forever, she's preparing to risk her entire idol career and influence to reveal everything at the live show in May."
"I couldn't judge whether Ai's feelings were right or not before, but thanks to you, Anon, I understand now."
If you can't truly understand each other, then even if you're together, you can't naturally beco a married couple... or a family.
Perhaps the two of them, who had depended on each other seven years ago, had reached a temporary understanding, but now, after a seven-year gap, they shouldn't be so quick to devote everything to each other without reservation like they did back then.
He might not have the right to judge Ai's feelings, but the choice she had made was absolutely wrong.
As her companion who had shared hardships with her seven years ago, and also as the "culprit" who caused the situation to develop this far.
He had to correct Ai's mistake.
—7 days until Chihaya Tetsuya and Hoshino Ai's reunion.
User Comments
0 comments from readers