Chapter 16: Sisters


"Ui… Ui-chan~"

Jun waved her hand in front of Ui, who had been staring at the wall since Azusa left the dorm room a little while ago to hang out with Yui. Jun flicked the younger Hirasawa's forehead, effectively waking her up from her momentary coma. "Ow…" Ui whined, rubbing her forehead, "Jun-chan, that hurt."

Jun widened her eyes and apologised, "Oh it did? Sorry, I always thought anime exaggerated the whole forehead flicking thing… anyway, at least you're wide awake again."

Ui stood up to get a refill of tea for herself and Jun. "Anyway, you seem quite down the past few days, anything up?" Jun asks while munching on crackers. Ui sighed. No, she wouldn't want to bother Jun with such a small problem. "No, I'm fine," Ui answers, putting on a smile, before asking, "Hey, my Onee-chan and Azusa-chan have been hanging out a lot huh?"

"Oh yeah," Jun replied, "Azusa's calling her 'Yui' now. I'm not surprised though, they are pretty close."

"Yeah," Ui mutters, carrying the refilled teapot back to the table. Ui sits and looks at Jun once more, asking, "And she seems much more independent now doesn't she?"

Jun stares at Ui. So that's what she's worried about. "Are you perhaps disappointed your Onee-chan doesn't depend on you as much anymore?" Jun asks to Ui's shock. "N-no... well, I don't really know," Ui replies, "I mean she's an adult now and all but, I can't help but be worried about her sometimes."

Jun gulped down the contents of her teacup and leaned back against her chair. "Ui, you didn't honestly think you would have to take care of her forever did you?" Jun asks the Hirasawa. They stared at each other for a few moments before Ui nodded. Jun sighs before saying, "In my opinion, you should be happy she's grown so much. If she's learning to support herself well, then there's nothing to worry about."

Ui nods, still feeling troubled.


"You look happier than usual Ricchan," Ayame observed her fellow drummer's noticeable grin as they walked out of their lecture room. "Uh, duh… summer break is in like a month! How could I not be happy?" Ritsu exclaimed as she stretched her arms out.

Ayame smiled and replied, "Well I guess I can understand. This month is gonna feel really long though, our lecturer did say the upcoming exam is gonna be quite tough… uh, Ricchan?"

Ritsu stopped walking upon hearing 'exam'.

"Arrgghh!" Ritsu groaned loudly, earning her some stares from other students walking past, "Dammit I haven't started revising!"

Ayame held back the urge to laugh before saying, "You better get started, or you'll fail… or worse face Mio-chan's wrath."

A shiver went down Ritsu's spine. "Yeah, I better get going, see ya!" the drummer said to Ayame, running off back home.


Wednesday Evening, Mio and Ritsu's apartment...

Mio came home from her classes, exhausted, but all of said tiredness vanished upon seeing Ritsu on her bed scribbling away in her notebooks. "Yo Mio, food's on the stove," the drummer said, still looking at her notebook. Mio was still shocked at the drummer's current state. "R-Ritsu," Mio said, placing her bag down, "Y-you're actually… studying?!"

Ritsu widened her eyes, closed her notebook and gave the bassist a thumbs up. "Yesu! The great Tainaka Ritsu has been working tirelessly for the past hour!" Ritsu announced proudly. Mio raised an eyebrow. "Really? Well, I'm really proud of you, Tainaka Ritsu," Mio replied, as Ritsu opened her notebook again.

"Gosh~ Mio-chan's compliments are so sappy," Ritsu joked, placing her hands over her face. "Yeah, yeah," Mio brushed off her friend. Mio turned her back to the drummer for a moment, before plucking the notebook out of her hands. "Oi! Gimme that back!" Ritsu protested, attempting to swipe the book back.

Ritsu tackled Mio onto the latter's bed, trying to snatch the notebook out of the bassist's hands to no avail. Mio eventually managed to quickly flip through the drummer's notebook, only to see that instead of study notes, the book was filled with drawings of many anime characters. Mio scowled as she continued flipping through the book. "Ritsu," the bassist scolded, "how many times do I have to tell you, you're in college! Take things seriously for goodness sake, your exams are coming up!"

"Okay I get it, you can stop nagging now," Ritsu groaned. "I wouldn't have to if you were more responsible," Mio retorted, closing the notebook to reveal the drummer's face inches away from hers. They were still in the same position they were in when Ritsu tackled Mio just moments ago. The childhood friends stopped thinking for a while, only staring at each other. Mio and Ritsu eventually realised what was happening, both of their faces flushing a deep red.

"Y-you can get off me now," Mio stuttered, blushing intensely. Ritsu's brain stopped processing for a few seconds before shooting up, looking very embarrassed. The two of them continued staying still, not looking at each other, but eventually calming down, after which, Mio snapped, "Y-you baka! Why did you… do what you just did?!"

Ritsu looked at her friend indignantly and retorted, "I only tackled you because you stole my notes you, you thief!"

"Notes? What notes?" Mio asked loudly, "What, these terrible drawings?"

"Terrible?! What do you mean, I spent a lot of time on those!" Ritsu shouted. "You're missing the point!" Mio snapped, "You're supposed to use your time studying! Not doodling!"

Before Ritsu could come up with a comeback, their doorbell rang. The duo walked up to the entrance door, Ritsu looking through the peep hole to see who was there. And there stood Akira and Mugi. "Eh? Mugi and Akira?" Ritsu said, confused, opening the door.

"Ricchan, Mio-chan," Mugi greeted as she and Akira stepped into the house. "Hey Mugi," Ritsu greeted back before turning to Akira, "I'm surprised you're here though, last time you said you were never coming back since it was 'too noisy'."

Akira shot a look at Ritsu and replied, "Yeah, you were too noisy. I'm here to get some tips from Mio-chan."

"What do you mean tips?" Ritsu asked, raising an eyebrow, "What? Are you flunking?"

"Don't be rude," Mio scolded, slapping the drummer's shoulder lightly, "Akira told me she wanted to learn a few things from my lyric writing."

In Ritsu's opinion, her best friend looked too proud of herself. "Great," the drummer grinned, "If that's the case, I should expect a song from Akira about curry or stationary soon am I righ-"

"Shut up!" Mio snapped as the drummer disappeared into the kitchen, laughing. Mio turned to Akira, and apologised for her friend's antics. "Don't mind that baka," Mio said as she dug out some slightly worn out pieces of paper, "They might be a little hard to read, my handwriting five years ago isn't the best."

Mio handed Akira the lyrics. "Thanks," Akira thanked the bassist, before looking at the lyrics, eventually noticing the strange song names. Mio was smiling widely at Akira expectantly. "What do you think?" Mio asked, eyes wide. "My Love is a Stapler, Tokimeki Sugar, Cagayake Girls, are all their songs this… cute?" Akira thought to herself before flashing a smile at Mio, "They all look wonderful."


The next day…

"Sorry for the intrusion…" Azusa and Jun said as Ui welcomed them into her dorm room. "It's fine, really," Ui smiles at her friends, "I made extra dinner, haha."

"Again…?" Azusa and Jun thought. Ui had been making dinner instead of heading to the cafeteria for a few days now, calling her friends over whenever she made extra portions of food. Even so, there would still be leftovers from the extra food, even with three people eating.

"Uh, Ui, the extra dinner you have been making… was it supposed to be for your sister?" Jun asked, raising an eyebrow. "Of course not," Ui replied, smiling at Jun, "I just think home cooked food is much healthier than the ones we have in the cafeteria."

"Great excuse," Jun thought, rolling her eyes. "You don't have to do this so much Ui," Azusa said, "We do have a cafeteria you know…"

"I know that!" Ui snapped suddenly, before blushing and excusing herself to make tea for the trio. Jun and Azusa stared at Ui boiling water, confused at Ui's sudden outburst.

"Uh, is something up with her?" Azusa whispered to Jun, who scoffed at the former. "Tsk, tsk," Jun teased Azusa, "Something's wrong with your friend and you don't even know."

Azusa narrowed her eyes at the bassist. "Don't be irritating," Azusa scolded Jun, "If something's wrong with her, we have to help her out."

Jun crossed her arms and said, "I tried comforting her, but it didn't really work."

"Knowing you, your 'comfort' probably made things worse," Azusa smirked to Jun's annoyance. "Shut up," Jun retorted, "Anyway… Ui-tan is a bit sad that her older sister doesn't depend on her anymore-"

"That's what she's upset about?" Azusa asked in disbelief. Jun pinched Azusa's cheek, the latter emitting a small squeak. "Don't interrupt me," Jun said, "She probably thinks that Yui-senpai isn't as close to her anymore, spending more time with you then her."

"What?" Azusa said in surprise, "What do you mean?"

"Do I really have to spell it out for you?" Jun sighed, shaking her head, "You and your girlfriend have been going out so much that her sister, who used to be the person she would always hang around with is getting jealous!"

"She's not my girlfriend!" Azusa snapped quietly, while blushing, "And Ui's a siscon?!"

"What?! No!" Jun replied in disgust, "I'm surprised you even know that term!"

"The point is, Yui's not my girlfriend, we've just gotten closer… as friends of course!" Azusa whispered, blushing even more.

"Then tell that to Ui," Jun whispered back, "I don't like this kind of drama."

"At least talk to her with me!" Azusa pleaded, "The conversation will definitely be awkward!"

"Everyone getting along?" Ui asked warmly as she brought back a kettle of tea and some small cups, any sign of anger from earlier vanished. "Yeah," Azusa said, trying to smile at Ui. Ui grinned as she poured out tea for Jun and Azusa.

"Ui…" Azusa asked slowly. "Hm?" Ui replied, placing a teacup in front of Jun. "If there's anything wrong, you can talk to us, you know?" Azusa offers, placing her hand on Ui's hand.

"Oh, it's nothing," Ui says with a smile. Jun widened her eyes. "Let's just get over this quickly," Jun groaned internally.

"It's useless to keep to yourself baka, just pour out everything that's troubling you to us so we can get over it," Jun demanded sternly to Azusa's dismay. "Don't be so blunt!" Azusa snapped.

"No, it's fine guys," Ui smiles at her friends, "It's just a phase. I'll be fine in no time."

Azusa and Jun glanced at each other, doubtful.


Mugi, Sachi, Akira and Yui were in the Library, studying for their exams. Well, three of them were. "Yui," Akira whispered.

"Yeah?" Yui replied, looking up from her phone. "Aren't you gonna revise?" Akira asked.

"Oh, I finished studying," Yui said, smiling. The other three looked at Yui in disbelief. "Okay then Yui-chan," Sachi said, pushing Akira's exercise book towards Yui and pointing at a particularly long question, "Answer this."

"Guys, is this really necessary?" Mugi asked, looking at Yui worriedly. Akira placed a hand on Mugi's shoulder and replied, "It's all good Mugi-chan, we'll wanna see if Yui actually studied."

Yui blinked at Akira, confused, before looking down to start on the question. A few minutes passed, and Yui looked up from the question. "Done!"

"Huh already?" Akira said in surprise, snatching the book away from Yui, "Probably incorrect."

Akira flipped to the answer sheet, only to realise that Yui was in fact, correct. "Amazing!" Mugi applauded Yui, patting her head. Akira and Sachi looked at Yui's answers and the answer sheet repeatedly. The older Hirasawa's workings and explanation were perfect. "H-how the hell?" Akira exclaimed in a low voice.

"I've been studying thanks to Azunyan's new schedule for me," Yui said proudly, "Thanks to it, I have much more free time to hang out with her!"

At that moment, Azusa opened the library doors and approached her seniors' table. "Speaking of your girlfriend," Akira said quietly, smirking and turning to Yui.

"She's not my girlfriend," Azusa protested in a whisper, appearing behind Yui. "Oh! Azunyan, what brings you here?" Yui asked leaning her head backwards to face Azusa.

Azusa ignored Yui, turning to her seniors, "I'm sorry senpais, I need to borrow Yui for a while."

"Go ahead," Mugi smiled mischievously at her kouhai. Azusa blushed, for reasons she herself did not know.

Azusa grabbed Yui's hand and dragged her out of the library and into a restroom. "What's up Azunyan?" Yui asked. Azusa sighed. "Well you see, Ui's been feeling kinda down these past few days," Azusa explained to the older girl.

"Down? Like upset? What happened?" Yui asked anxiously. Azusa avoided looking at Yui, "W-well… it's kind of a personal matter between you two so... maybe it's better if you talked to her yourself."


That evening… Ritsu and Mio's apartment…

"I can't help but feel like we're forgetting something that we said we would do some time ago," Mio complained, staring at the ceiling. Mio and Ritsu were in their room, unwinding on their beds. "If you forgot, then it's probably not important," Ritsu replied, focused on the game she was playing on her phone

Mio sat up and looked at the drummer. "That's what you said about your last assignment," Mio scolded. A gunshot noise emitted from Ritsu's phone, which was followed by a swear word blurted out from the drummer herself, indicating that she had lost whatever game she was playing. Mio narrowed her eyes at her friend, who dropped her phone on the bed. "I'm right though," Ritsu said, "If you forgot, it's probably from an unimportant chapter in our life."

"You're really unhelpful," Mio groaned, slumping back onto her bed. "You're really whiny," Ritsu retorted, shutting their bedside lamp off.


Ui's apartment…

*KNOCK*

*KNOCK*

*KNOCK*

"Ui, you there?"

Ui turned off the stove. Her Onee-chan is here? Ui felt as if she hadn't seen her sister in what felt like forever… two days. Ui opened the door only to receive a tight hug from Yui. "U-Ui, please tell me if somethings wrong," Yui said, her voice shaking, "I don't want you to feel sad…"

The two sisters retreated to the comfort of the dorm room, sitting opposite each other on Ui's bed. "I should be the one who's sorry," Ui sniffed, "I didn't want to tell you I was feeling this way because… I was afraid I would trouble you with my petty problems…"

"Why would I be troubled?" Yui asked, confused, "We're sisters aren't we? We're supposed to share our problems with each other."

Ui widened her eyes. That's right. It had always been like that. Yui and Ui have always talked to each other about their troubles, the latter not so much considering how mature she was. But now, Ui felt anything but mature. Yui always talked to her younger sister about her woes, no matter how petty or how serious, so why couldn't Ui do the same.

And so, Ui poured her heart out to her Yui, who listened and comforted her. Her fear of not being needed by her Onee-chan, her fear of distance between them, all of her insecurities were relayed to Yui, who cried with her younger sister.

"I'm so troublesome," Ui laughed and cried at the same time. Yui responded by wrapping her arms around Ui again. "Silly Ui," Yui smiled as tears streamed down both pairs of eyes, "I would never distance myself from you, I love you! You always took care of me, like my second mommy…"

Ui sniffed as laid her chin on her sister's shoulder. "Just because I may be growing up, doesn't mean I'll grow apart from you," Yui soothed, "If anything, I really, really thank you for helping me mature, you taught me basic cooking, folding clothes… you are one of the most important people in my life! I admired your maturity and knew I shouldn't always be a burden to you, so I am trying to change. You inspired me to make myself a better person!"

Ui's heart lifted. Of course. Yui wasn't abandoning her. She would never. Yui was simply changing for the better, because of her. Ui suddenly found the mindset that she would always pamper Yui ridiculous. Time has passed, and time will change Yui.

"Onee-chan…" Ui whimpered, new tears forming in her eyes, "I love you too!"

"I know," Yui replied, her voice shaking, joining in on the waterworks as the sisters embraced.


Early next morning, Campus Cafeteria…

Azusa and Jun were having breakfast together when suddenly, their phones buzzed. It was a text from Ui to their group chat of three which said, "Thanks :)"

Azusa and Jun smiled at the text. "I'm jealous," Jun said, grinning, "I want a sister like Ui."

Azusa looked at Jun in confusion, "What about your brother?"

Jun laughed, "Acchan? Oh, no, Ui is so much more reliable than him, much more adorable too."

Azusa took a sip from her drink, pitying Jun's brother. "I kinda get what you mean though," Azusa said, "As an only child, it would be nice to have a sibling, and Yui's lucky to have one like Ui."

"The both of us are already like sisters if I do say so myself," Jun pointed out. Azusa smiled at her friend, replying, "Yeah I guess we are… I am the Ui though."

"What?! I wanna be the Ui," Jun whined, grabbing Azusa's shoulder and shaking her. "Pipe down you," Azusa grinned, shaking off the bassist.


Saturday… Ritsu and Mio's apartment…

Ritsu was munching on her cereal. Mio had left earlier to go out with Mugi. Ritsu stared at the pile of revision notes Mio made for her, she had to finish it by the end of the day or Mio would never let her hear the end of it. All of a sudden, the doorbell rang. Ritsu opened the door to see her landlord Nagako and… Sawako…?

"Mornin' ladies," Ritsu greeted, holding a cup of chocolate milk, "Sawa-chan, nice to see you here, you alright? You look a little off today."

"I'm sick," Sawako explained. Ritsu looked at Sawako closely. The teacher had heavy, dark eye bags and her skin looks paler. "Okay…" Ritsu said, turning her gaze towards Nagako, "So what brings you here, Landlord-sama?"

"Well," Nagako replied, showing Ritsu an email from Mr Tainaka, "Your and Mio-chan's parents told me to tell you that you're gonna have to start paying your own rent."

Ritsu gulped down her chocolate milk, now realising what Mio forgot, what their parents told them when they first learned that they were getting their own apartment: They would have to pay their own rent eventually.

Damn, this took some time. Hope you liked the chapter though! Next update will be within the next week!