My Sister's Best Friend ch20

p1
>Family is...

p2
>I should've grown my bangs out more.
>But if they grow too long, they get in the way.

>...

>I feel more calm this way,
>so whatever.

>>Sakikawa Sena
>>I got here early.

p3
>I'll text you once I'm out of the salon.
>Kay.
>I got here early.
>I'm at the café near the salon.
>Just finished now!

>!

p4
>You surprised me.
>Did you think I was someone else?
>No.
>I knew it was you, Onee-chan.

>You're cute...

>Ehehe.
>Thanks.

>I'll go buy myself a drink too.

>I'm glad Yuuna seems to be doing okay...
>She seemed really busy until recently.

p5
>I made her worry about me... It's all my fault.

>Your hair looks cute too, Sena.
>Did you do it yourself?

>Yes.
>A friend taught me how.
>You mean the girl you told me about the other day?
>Yeah.

>Back when you were little, your hair would always come apart if I tried to braid it.
>It's because you have such smooth hair, Sena.
>It might just be because we're family, but Yuuna might be the type who gets really touchy feely.
>Especially when we haven't seen each other in a while...

p6
>So you decided... to cut yours in the end, Onee-chan?

>Yeah.
>It's my first time cutting this much off at once.
>I followed your advice from the other day, Sena.

>...
>Are you glad you cut it?
>Yeah...
>...

>...But to be honest, I was hesitant.
>I've had long hair for ages...
>I'd look in the mirror... and feel relieved.

p7
>...You did use to look in the mirror a lot.
>Right?

>When I looked in the mirror,
>I'd be relieve that I was the same old me... and disappointed that I hadn't changed.
>It's like I was confirming that I existed... or something like that.
>...I guess it was a place where I could be calm.

>It was only when I became an adult that I thought about it like that...
>...Yeah, I'm no good at putting this stuff into words.
>Unlike you and Kiku.

>I thought about talking about something fun, but I ended up talking about this...
>I guess it's cos I was relieved to see you doing so well, Sena.

p8
>I want to hear that kind of thing too.

>How sweet of you to say that.

>...When you cut your hair,
>did the place where you could feel relieved go away?

>No.

>If anything, there's more of them now that I'm an adult.
>What about you, Sena?

>...Yeah.
>Me too.

p9
>I see.
>...Looks like we've both become fine adults.

>I'm glad I came back before the cherry blossoms were due to fall.

>Let's start the flower viewing while we wait for Kiku.
>Sure.

p10
>Did you catch a blossom?

>I did, or rather...
>It just fell into my hand.
>Give it to Kiku later.

>Think she'll want it?
>Woah, it's really windy.
>She'd probably be happy to receive a flower from you, Sena.

>She practically boasted about the tulips she got from you, which is something you don't see often.
>Eh?

>I'm glad you're getting along.

p11
>And you, Onee-chan?

>...I guess I never did tell you much
>about my fiancée.

>Because I was avoiding the subject...
>I thought about bringing him here so you could meet him.

>...Or rather, I can't believe I said you should live together with me and someone you barely know, Sena.
>It doesn't take much to see that was too selfish of me.

>I'm sorry.
>...I rushed into things.

p12
>He told me the same thing...

>That's why.
>He's calm and kinda
>and we get along well.

>...

>Glad to hear it.

p13
>It's pretty calm today, isn't it?
>...Yeah.

>Have you been overdoing up until now, Onee-chan?

>I haven't!
>...What about now?

>...I'm not.

>Right now... can you rely on me?

>Hmm...

p14
>I-
>I can't help it.

>I want to be a strong big sister when I'm in front of you.

>...I don't want to burden you with anything more.

>So you burdened Kiku instead.

p15
>I'm sorry.

>I'm sorry too.

>Why are you apologising, Sena?

p16
>...When I learned you had a lover, Onee-chan, I hated it.

>I hated that he was taking me from you.
>Why is such childish stuff coming out of my mouth?

>There were all kinds of emotions inside of me.
>The mess it became was all real.

>It was painful enduring it by myself this whole time.
>But that was my fault for relying on Onee-chan all the time.


p16
>That's why I'm sorry.
>Maybe I never will become

>a place that you can depend on so easily.
>Sena.

p17
>Hug me!
>Then we'll be even.

p18
>You've really grown.
>You used to be so small...

p19
>Sena must have been waiting all this time
>for me to say "I want a hug".

>When you left, Sena,
>I was really... really sad and lonely.

p20
>You were
>the place I belonged the most.

>I wanted to be with you forever.

>But I didn't want to use that as an excuse to limit your options.

>I want to support you... but I'm lonely.
>The words I told you weren't a lie.
>I really wanted to be a reliable big sister in front of you.

p21
>But I should've just stopped acting touch and said it.
>"Don't go."
>"I'm lonely."

>I need to show you my vulnerable side,
>so that you could share your weaknesses too, Sena.

p22
>But she couldn't say it.
>Neither of us could.

>Because I'm me
>and Yuuna is Yuuna.
>...When I become reliable,
>stop putting on a strong front, Onee-chan.

p23
>When you say something like that with such spirit, Sena,
>I get worried... I dunno~

>I worry too.

>Like I tell Kiku...
>Hey~

>Thank goodness I found you.
>Sorry for the wait~

p24
>...Are you having a fight?
>You okay?
>Kiku.
>Long time no see.

>It's been a while, so I brought a lot of snacks for the flower viewing, but...
>maybe I should leave?
>No, it's fine.
>Thanks.

>Well then.
>Let's look for a bench and watch the flowers.

p25
>Onee-chan.
>Sena.

>What do you
>think "family" is?

>Family...
>Yuuna and... me.
>...

p26
>It's the people you care for deeply.

>I see.
>It's me, Sena

>and Kiku.

>So that's what it was~ It's so obvious now~

p27
>Was Yuuna ever like that in front of you, Kiku?

>Well, kinda, but...

>We'll get left behind.

p28
>You both have cute hair.
>You say that, but I bet you think Sena's is cuter, huh, Kiku?
>What's with that comeback?
>It's rare coming from you.
>Sena, why don't you give Kiku the blossom you caught earlier?
>Ah.
>I threw it away...
>Guess you'll have to catch another one.
>Yeah.
>What are you talking about?

>>Next time, the final chapter.