Hitomi Got a Bad Feeling

Hitomi got home and made dinner. She ate with her brother, Asahi, and asked about his first day of high school.

"It was boring. Anyway, that's not important. Are we still going to the amusement park next week?" he asked, his voice full of excitement.

"Yes," Hitomi said, nodding. Her mind wandered, and soon it was night. The next day followed the same routine. Once again, she couldn't resist sniffing Asahi's underwear after he left for school. She felt guilty after, just like always.

Three days later, she decided to go overseas with Senha. It would let Asahi live without her and help her shake off her feelings for him.

"I'm going overseas for three years," Hitomi said during dinner.

"Are you joking?" Asahi laughed.

"No, I'm serious. It's a great opportunity," she replied, her tone firm.

Asahi's face changed. He frowned, stood up, and clenched his fist like he might yell or hit the table. He raised his hand but stopped. "You said we'd live together forever," he said, his voice low and sad.

Seeing him like that made Hitomi waver, but she steeled herself. For both their sakes, she had to leave and put distance between them, no matter how much it hurt. "I did say that, but I won't stay single forever. I'll have a husband and kids. You'll have a wife and kids too," she said, each word painful.

"I don't want a wife or kids. I want you," he said.

"I want a husband and kids. We can't spend our whole lives together," Hitomi said, looking him in the eye with a steady voice.

Asahi left his food untouched and walked out of the room. Alone, Hitomi felt tears coming. She went to her room.

The next day, he stopped talking to her. She cried over her choice, and soon, it was time to leave. She hoped he'd see her off, but he didn't show up. She left alone, knowing she might not see him for three years.

Time passed. She called him often, but he never answered. She told him to stay with Senha's older sister, but he didn't go. He lived alone instead. Every day, Hitomi thought about him. Was he eating? Was he okay? If he got sick, was the neighbor she'd asked looking after him?

Three years went by, and she never got through to him. She asked a neighbor to check on him. The neighbor said he was fine, or she'd have rushed back sooner.

Hitomi regretted leaving him every day. When the three years ended, she hurried home. The house was a mess when she arrived. "He didn't clean a thing. He's hopeless without me," she said, smiling as she tidied up, eager to see him.

He wasn't home, so she checked the neighbor's place, but it was locked. "He's probably out with friends," she told herself. Exhausted from the trip and cleaning, she planned a short nap but fell into a deep sleep.

She woke up at 3 AM the next morning. "How long was I out?" she muttered, shaking her head. She looked for Asahi. "He didn't wake me. Is he still mad?"

He wasn't in the house. "He didn't come home all day? Where is he?" Confused, she decided to call him. She hadn't yesterday, wanting to surprise him, but now she tried. No answer.

She waited until 7 AM, then planned to ask the neighbors. If that failed, she'd go to his school for his friends' contact info. At 7, she checked the neighbor's house again—still locked.

Hitomi frowned. She'd been calling Asahi for hours—her 231st attempt failed too. Sighing, she headed to his school for his friends' numbers. On the way, she saw a beautiful girl in a white top, red skirt, and black leggings walking toward her house.

Hitomi watched as the girl rang her doorbell and called Asahi's name. "Hey, do you know my brother?" Hitomi asked, approaching her.

The girl jumped, turned, and put a hand on her chest. "Phew, you scared me," she said.

"Sorry. I heard you call my brother's name," Hitomi said, bowing in apology.

"Well… Asahi and I are good friends. We're supposed to see a new movie today, so I came to get him," the girl said, blushing. "Do you know why he's not answering? I've called him for three days with no luck, so I came here. Sorry if I upset you."

She bowed back. Hitomi might've found her random bowing funny—or felt jealous—but she didn't have time for that. Her chest tightened. A cold shiver ran through her, fear gripping her for reasons she couldn't name.