Between Guilt and Grace

It was my sister. A wave of relief washed over me as I turned to face her.

"Sister, did you lock the door before you came?" I asked, my voice steady but curious.

She crossed her arms, a knowing smile on her lips. "Yes, I did. But Yuki, you didn't tell me you were going out with your friends," she said, her tone carrying a hint of playful scolding.

I barely had a chance to respond before Sayoko, who had been watching us, suddenly spoke up. "Wait… Shinobu? When did you come back?"

Shinobu turned to her, her smirk never fading. "Oh, I came back a week ago. Had some business to take care of. I'll be here for a few months," she explained casually.

Meanwhile, Haru and Kane stood to the side, still confused, exchanging glances as if trying to piece things together.

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck before finally deciding to put an end to their confusion.

"Guys, she's my big sister, Shinobu Hara," I said, glancing at them.

Haru's eyes widened slightly before narrowing into an intrigued gaze. His usual playful smirk crept onto his lips as he stepped forward.

"Well, well," he mused, looking Shinobu up and down. "Yuki, you never told us you had such a stunning older sister."

Shinobu raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Oh? Is that so?" she replied, her voice carrying a teasing edge.

Haru didn't hesitate, taking another step closer. "If I had known, I would've insisted on meeting you sooner," he said smoothly, tilting his head slightly.

Kane groaned beside me. "Haru, seriously?"

I let out an exhausted sigh. "Don't start this," I muttered, regretting the introduction.

But to my surprise, Shinobu chuckled, tilting her head as she crossed her arms. "Bold, aren't you?" she mused, playing along. "Tell me, do you flirt with every girl you meet, or am I just special?"

Haru placed a hand on his chest as if offended. "You wound me, Shinobu. I may be a flirt, but I recognize true beauty when I see it."

Shinobu smirked, clearly enjoying the banter. "I see. Then let's find out if you're as charming as you think you are."

Sayoko leaned toward me, whispering, "This is going to be interesting."

I could already feel a headache coming on. Kane sighed heavily beside me. "This is gonna be a disaster."

And yet, as Haru and Shinobu continued their playful exchange, I couldn't help but wonder—who was really playing who?

Haru's smirk didn't fade as he stepped forward slightly. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Shinobu," he said casually. "Yuki never mentioned he had an older sister."

Shinobu crossed her arms, glancing at me before looking back at him. "He probably didn't think it was important," she said with a small shrug.

"Or maybe he was just trying to keep you away from us," Kane muttered under his breath.

I shot him a look, but Shinobu only chuckled. "Is that so? Well, I can handle myself just fine."

Haru nodded, his expression still relaxed. "I don't doubt that," he said. "You seem pretty sharp."

Shinobu smirked. "I have to be."

Kane sighed. "Great. Another person who can keep up with Haru's nonsense."

I could only sigh, already bracing myself for whatever was coming next.

Haru chuckled at Kane's comment but didn't argue. Instead, he slipped his hands into his pockets and glanced around. "So, Shinobu, since you'll be here for a few months, what's the plan? Just visiting, or do you have something lined up?"

Shinobu leaned against the wall, her expression calm. "A bit of both," she said. "I had some business to care for, and I figured I'd stick around for a while. It's been a while since I spent time with Yuki, anyway."

I glanced at her, surprised but not displeased. She hadn't mentioned wanting to stay for that reason.

Sayoko smiled. "That's nice. I'm sure Yuki appreciates it."

I nodded, though I didn't say anything. It wasn't often that my sister and I got much time together.

Kane, still skeptical of Haru's intentions, crossed her arms. "Well, just don't let this guy bother you too much. He's got a habit of talking more than he should."

Haru scoffed. "I'm being completely normal."

Shinobu smirked slightly. "I'll be the judge of that."

Sayoko let out a small laugh. "I think she'll fit in just fine."

I wasn't so sure about that, but for now, I let the conversation continue, wondering what the next few months would bring.

Shinobu pushed off the wall and stretched her arms. "Anyway, it's been a long day. I should probably get some rest."

I nodded. "Your room's still the same. You can take it easy for now."

She gave me a small smile. "Thanks, Yuki."

As she turned to leave, Haru called out, "Hey, Shinobu."

She glanced over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah?"

Haru hesitated for a brief second before shrugging. "Welcome back."

A flicker of surprise crossed her face before she gave a small nod. "Thanks," she said simply, then disappeared down the hall.

Kane sighed, rubbing her temples. "Well, that was something."

Sayoko smiled. "I think she'll be fun to have around."

Haru, for once, had no clever remark. He simply watched where Shinobu had gone, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

""So, do you guys think we should go see the fireworks?" I asked, glancing at them.

For a moment, there was silence—then, in perfect unison, they all shouted, "Who the freak are you waiting for? Let's go!"

Their sudden excitement caught me off guard, but I couldn't help but grin. Haru threw an arm around my shoulder, already dragging me forward, while Sayoko clapped her hands, practically bouncing with anticipation. Kane let out a dramatic sigh and shook her head, though the small smirk on her face gave her away.

With the festival lights glowing in the distance and the faint sound of crackling fireworks in the sky, we set off, our laughter and energy filling the cool night air.

As we reached the festival grounds, the crowd had already gathered near the riverbank, waiting for the fireworks to begin. People sat on picnic blankets—some chatting, others looking up in anticipation. The night sky stretched endlessly above us, a deep shade of indigo speckled with stars.

Sayoko clapped her hands. "Let's find a good spot!"

We settled near the river, the reflection of lanterns dancing on the water's surface. The atmosphere was peaceful yet buzzing with excitement. I glanced at Kane, who had her arms crossed as she gazed at the sky.

"You, okay?" I asked.

She looked at me, her expression softening. "Yeah. It's just been a while since I've done something like this."

I nodded, understanding what she meant. It wasn't often we got moments like this—just simple, carefree times.

A sudden boom echoed through the air, and the first firework shot up, exploding in a dazzling burst of gold. The crowd erupted in cheers, and just like that, the night became even more alive.

Sayoko gasped in awe. "So pretty!"

Haru whistled. "Now, this is a view."

Kane smirked. "Even you can shut up for fireworks, huh?"

Haru chuckled. "I can appreciate the finer things in life, Kane."

As the fireworks continued, I found myself simply enjoying the moment. The colors reflected in everyone's eyes—Kane's quiet smile, Sayoko's childlike wonder, Haru's playful admiration.

For the first time in a while, everything felt... peaceful.

I exhaled softly, watching as another firework painted the sky in hues of red and blue.

Maybe, just maybe, moments like these were worth holding on to.

As the last firework fizzled out, the night settled into a calm hush. The once-bustling festival grounds began emptying, leaving behind only the distant hum of chatter and the faint scent of burnt gunpowder in the cool air.

Haru stretched, rolling his shoulders. "Well, that was a show," he said, glancing at Sayoko with his usual grin. "Come on, I'll walk you home."

Sayoko blinked, then smiled. "Oh? That's sweet of you, Haru."

Haru placed a hand over his chest in mock offense. "Sweet? Sayoko, I'm always sweet."

Beside me, Kane let out a dramatic groan before clinging to my arm. "Yuki, you take her home!" she whined, her voice full of exaggerated suffering. "I can't deal with him acting all charming the entire way."

I sighed, gently prying her off. "Kane, you do this every time. Shouldn't you be used to it by now?"

She crossed her arms and pouted. "Used to it? Haru being Haru is one thing, but watching him flirt the entire way home? That's torture."

Haru smirked, clearly enjoying her misery. "Jealous, Kane?"

She scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Jealous? Of what? Watching you try to be some smooth romantic lead? No thanks."

Haru gasped, feigning deep offense. "Ouch. That hurts, Kane."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Alright, enough. Haru already offered, so let him take Sayoko home. Let's just go."

Kane grumbled but didn't argue further. Sayoko gave us a small wave as she walked off with Haru, who was already talking—probably throwing in a few compliments along the way.

Kane and I turned toward the empty streets, the festival lights flickering behind us. She sighed, "Finally, some peace."

I chuckled, "Until the next time Haru decides to annoy you."

She groaned, "Don't remind me."

With that, we continued home, the distant crackle of fireworks fading into the quiet night.

As we walked down the quiet streets, the distant crackle of fireworks echoed in the background, gradually fading into the night. The festival lights flickered behind us, casting a warm glow on Kane's face.

I glanced at her, taking in how the soft colours of the lanterns reflected in her eyes. Without thinking, I spoke:

"Kane… you looked cute today."

She blinked, caught off guard. Then a faint blush dusted her cheeks as she turned to me with a teasing smirk. "Don't you think you should've said that before?"

I scratched the back of my head, looking away. "I just couldn't, okay? I had my reasons."

She studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah… I understand."

We fell into a comfortable silence, the only sounds our footsteps against the pavement and the lingering echoes of celebration in the distance.

Then, after a pause, I took a deep breath. "Kane, I wanted to ask you something."

She tilted her head slightly. "Sure. What is it?"

I hesitated for a second before finally voicing the question that had been weighing on me for so long.

"Kane… would you be willing to hear why I killed my parents?"

The air around us grew still, and the warmth of the festival seemed to vanish, replaced by a heavy silence. Kane stopped walking, her expression unreadable as she turned to face me.

Then, gently, she reached out and placed both of her soft hands over mine, her warmth steadying me.

"Are you ready?" she asked, her voice quiet but firm. "Are you sure you want to tell me?"

I met her gaze, the flickering light of the lanterns reflecting in her deep eyes.

"Yes," I whispered. "I do."

Kane's grip on my hands tightened as she looked into my eyes, her gaze unwavering.

"Yuki, no matter what the reason was... I will still be with you, okay?"

Her voice was steady and filled with warmth, though it only made the weight in my chest heavier. I kept staring at her, feeling the softness of her hands against mine, grounding me in the moment.

"Kane," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I want to be free… I'm tired. I just want to be normal."

As the words left my lips, I felt a sting in my eyes. My vision blurred, and before I could stop it, a tear slipped down, landing on her hands.

Kane didn't flinch. Instead, she held me tighter.

"You've been strong all this time, Yuki," she murmured. "It's okay now. I'm here."

Her words broke something inside me. My legs gave out, and I fell to my knees, still clutching her hands as I let the tears fall freely.

"It was hard," I choked out between shaky breaths. "So hard…"

Kane crouched in front of me, her eyes soft yet filled with a quiet strength. A small smile played on her lips as she tilted her head.

"You look like a baby right now," she teased gently.

Then, without hesitation, she lifted a hand and carefully wiped my tears away, her touch tender and reassuring.

"Yuki," she whispered, "it's okay. Let it all go. Start again. This time… I'm with you."

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat refusing to fade.

She smiled, her voice steady. "I said it before, and I'll say it again—I'll take half of your suffering."

The night air was cool, the distant fireworks now just dying embers in the sky. But in that moment, nothing else mattered.

Only her. Only this.

Soon, my tears dried, and the quiet sobs that had wracked my chest faded into silence. The weight pressing down on me hadn't disappeared, but for the first time in what felt like forever, I could breathe.

All the while I had been crying, she never let go of my hands. Her grip was firm—warm, steady, unwavering—as if, even if the entire world crumbled around us, she would still be there, holding on. Not once did she loosen her fingers, not once did she hesitate.

I slowly lifted my head, my vision still blurred from the tears. When I met her eyes, something inside me shifted. This time, I didn't look at her with the empty, hollow gaze I'd grown so used to wearing. No, now my eyes held something else—something real.

Gratitude.

Relief.

A quiet kind of warmth made me glad I had run into her that day.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself, and with all the sincerity I could muster, I whispered, "Thank you, Kane… for looking after me while I cried."

She began to tease, her tone light: "So we have another secret between us, hehe," and then she laughed. This time, I wasn't annoyed—I smiled genuinely.

There was a silence between us—not one that felt awkward or heavy, but a quiet understanding. It felt natural, as if words weren't needed to fill the space between us. The only sounds were the soft echoes of our footsteps and the faint, distant crackle of fireworks somewhere far away.

Before I knew it, we had reached her home. I stopped in front of her doorstep, letting the moment linger for a second before speaking.

"So… see you tomorrow?"

She looked at me—really looked at me—as if she was expecting something more. When I didn't give it to her, a flicker of disappointment crossed her face. Her lips parted slightly, but all she said was, "Yeah… see you."

I turned around, ready to walk away, but she didn't move. I could feel her gaze still on me, watching, waiting.

And then—

the sudden sound of hurried footsteps.

I barely had time to react before I turned back and saw her running straight toward me. My arms moved instinctively, opening just in time for her to crash into me. For a moment, everything else disappeared. It was an odd experience—I had never hugged anyone before, not like this. She smelled… nice, a scent I couldn't quite place but that felt warm and familiar. The wind picked up, lifting strands of her blonde hair and making them dance in the night air. I couldn't help but admire how beautiful they looked, shimmering under the soft glow of the streetlights. Finally, she let go, stepping back just enough to meet my eyes.

"So… this is what a hug feels like," I murmured, more to myself than to her.

She smiled, her expression softer now. "Yeah… it was my first time too."

A pause. Then, with slight hesitation, she added, "See you tomorrow, Yuki. Take care."

I nodded, watching as she turned and disappeared into her house, fading into the background.

As I walked away, something felt different. Even the sky above me—so vast, so endless—seemed changed, as if it, too, had felt the shift between us.

Kane and I had grown close.

But God had other plans for us.

Soon, the good times would come to an end.