Disclaimer: I do not own "K-On!" nor do I profit from the writing of this story.
Author's Note: Sorry for not updating. Lots of things happening at once that has gotten my attention. Football during weekends making it hard to update but never fear I will not lose sight at the task at hand! With that said here is the next chapter. Enjoy.
Despite having to keep up with her school work, studies and extracurricular activities Hirasawa Ui was also expected to play house and make sure that everything was in order. Making breakfast and dinner, washing the clothes, cleaning the house, waking her older sister up in the mornings, all of which constituted a small percentage of what Ui had to do at home in addition to her schooling.
One would think that this was unfair. Yui, the older sister, was often lethargic and lazy and hardly did anything to help around the house. Some would cry foul thinking that Yui was taking advantage of her younger sister and forcing the poor girl to do her own bidding. That Yui was nothing more than a gigantic leech, doing nothing but living off the hard work of her younger sister and parents.
And speaking of parents some would even go so far as to blame the parents for not seeing this cruel abuse of power wielded by the older sister and put a stop to it or better yet why the parents were not being parents and instead chose to place their work over the well being of their kids. It was outrageous to think that these parents were so inept at their calling that they forced the job on the younger sibling instead.
The fact of the matter was that Ui was not being taken advantage of and that the younger Hirasawa sister was in fact more than happy to be of such service to her older sister.
As for Yui the scatterbrained brunette really did try to help but Ui would not hear of it. This was partly in concern for Yui hurting herself but mostly because Yui tended to make things worse if she tried to help.
To prove this one only had to listen and they could hear just how content Ui Hirasawa was as she washed the dishes while humming a small excerpt of one of the Light Music Clubs songs. Ui loved the fact that she could be of help to her older sister and parents and felt honored that her parents in turn trusted her enough to keep house and care for Yui while they worked overseas.
Yet the biggest reason why Ui loved doing what she did was because she just loved being able to dote on Yui. Everything from making her smile by making her favorite meals to brushing her hair before school to get rid of pesky split ends to sometimes reprimanding the older teenager for something that she may have done wrong.
Ui Hirasawa truly felt content just being with her sister and even wished at times that Yui would stay behind and continue to rely on her. That Yui would remain childish and helpless, that she would need Ui there to guide her through and through.
Such thoughts made Ui frown.
It was selfish of her to think like that. She knew that eventually Yui was going to have to grow up and leave and when she did Ui would soon be alone.
And then what? What do I do after that?
For a moment Ui had stopped washing the dishes and proceeded to stare at the ground and she contemplated this crucial point.
I'm so scared for Onee-chan. She is still so childish and innocent I wouldn't know what to do if she left. I'm scared that someone is going to hurt her and I won't be able to help because I'm not there with her.
But more than that...why do I feel such a sense of...loss when I think about her leaving. Why is it that I want her to stay no matter what?
Before Ui could get too far into her thoughts she was interrupted by her older sister, Yui, who happened to be on her back with a yellow pillow on her outstretched arms and feet.
Ui looked over to her older sister and could not help but smile.
Yui was dressed up in her pajamas in all pink as she was still playing with the pillow above her. If Ui looked very closely she could even make out the small dark spots on the pillow the result of which Yui had drooled over when watching TV earlier.
The sight looked terribly cute and Ui almost wanted to just walk over and squeeze her older sister with a bear hug and then rub her cheeks. Yui looked absolutely adorable.
"Hey Ui have you thought about what you wanted to do when you graduate?" asked Yui as she was still playing with pillow above her.
Ui's face suddenly frowned in response and immediately Ui was cautious as to how to approach this question.
I can't tell her that I'm going where she is going because I'm worried about her.. That will make me sound like I have not put any thought into my future. Or worse maybe she might even get freaked out. Well...maybe not freaked out but still. What do I tell her?
Yui seemed to notice this silence and proceeded to stop playing with her pillow and sat up.
"Hmm Ui?" asked Yui in concern.
At once Ui snapped out of her thoughts and came up with a response on the fly.
"I-I haven't put too much thought into it onee-chan." replied Ui said with a nervous smile.
"Oh, I see." replied Yui curiously before hardening her face a bit. "Well make sure that you do. Its very important you know." said Yui once more in an almost maternal, scolding voice.
Ui was somewhat surprised to hear Yui sound so serious about this. It kind of made her feel silly that she had not put much thought to her future but all things considered she didn't worry too much. Yui occasionally liked to play the doting older sister from time to time and Ui figured that this was one of those times. So she decided to humor her older sister, just to make her feel like she did her job.
"Y-You're right onee-chan. Its kinda dumb of me not to be thinking about my future. I know I still have some time but its something that I need to get serious on." replied Ui in a slightly submissive voice.
And as usual Yui ate the little act up and got up to her feet and huffed her chest in pride.
"Yosh! That's what I want to hear! My little Ui-chan is going to grow up very soon and you have to start putting alot of thought in what you want to do after you leave school." replied Yui proudly.
Ui smiled as she saw just how happy Yui was. She loved seeing her older sister like this, to see her act so satisfied in playing the part of the older sister.
However considering how serious Yui came across about inquiring about the future Ui could not help but be curious if Yui herself had put any thought to it.
I really doubt it and I'm going to hate bursting Yui's bubble but I can't help it . I really want to hear if onee-chan has really put any thought into her future.
"That's great to hear onee-chan! But what about you? Have you thought about what you want to do once you graduate from high school?" asked Ui.
To Ui's surprise Yui promptly thumped her chest in pride once more as she bobbed her head up and down quickly.
"Of course, of course! The future is clear to me now! When I graduate I'm going to go to college and study hard so that I can become a corporate worker! That way I can make alot of money!" said Yui with obvious pride.
Ui suddenly found herself frowing once again and she could not help but start to instantly worry.
O-Onee-chan wants to become a business worker? But why? That is such a hard future for her to want to go to. Plus the people there can be so mean if what mom and dad say are true. What will they do to onee-chan?
Immediately Ui's mind was filled with all sorts of mean men and women in business suits forcing Yui to do things for them. Like getting their coffee, or making her do their work or making her pay for their lunch. And then they would get mad at her whenever she messed up and say terribly mean things to her making Yui cry. In the end Ui saw a cruel looking old man whom she assumed was the boss of everyone and he would come and really make Yui cry, telling her how she was worthless to the company and that she would be better off not working for them. Yet they would never fire her but keep her there and make her feel miserable all the time. And each and every day Yui would lose her smile until one day...
No! I don't want to even think about it! This can't be right. I can't let her do this. Onee-chan obviously has not thought about this and only wants to work there because of the money. But she doesn't understand that those people can be so cruel. I won't let them take advantage of her and make her cry! I'll stop it before it even begins!
"Onee-chan I-I don't think that you want to be a corporate worker." said Ui softly.
Yui, who had been smiling and proud of herself, suddenly felt her smile fade and turned to look at her sister in a bit of disbelief.
Ui-chan...not you too...
"I'm sorry onee-chan but I don't think you should work there. Its very hard and long work. You have no time for anyone. I mean, look at mom and dad. They are always at work and when they DO come home they are too tired to do anything with us. Only eat and then sleep before going back to work again. I know you like to sleep in and spend time at home so I don't think that is any good for you. And then the people there are so cruel. They'll really hurt you onee-chan and-"
Yui could not take it.
She could understand that her friends would not believe in her, at least not at first. She did act silly and childish so she could understand why the Light Music Club did not take her seriously. Or why Ms. Yamanaka also did not take her seriously.
But to hear that her own little sister had so little faith in her. It just broke Yui's heart. She had truly expected Ui to be estatic about her strong conviction in her future. That she, Yui, was finally growing up and knew what she wanted for once.
"Not you too Ui-chan..." replied Yui miserably.
Ui immediately stopped talking and looked over to her older sister to see, to her dismay, that she was on the verge of tears. Ui felt her heart break that instant.
I-Is onee-chan crying?
And as Ui took a closer look at her older sister she could already see the tears forming, the form trembling as her body heaved a bit from the held back sobs. Already Ui could feel her own tears starting in her eyes.
"You know-" started Yui miserably, "-everyone in the Light Music Club also did not want me to become a coporate worker. They all told me the same thing. That it was too hard, that I wouldn't like it and that I was 'unfit' for it, whatever that means. I can understand that coming from them. I act silly in front of them all the time, especially to Azu-nyan, so I don't blame them too much for thinking that way. Even Sawa-chan didn't think I was serious. But not you Ui-chan. I-I thought that you would be happy that I want to make alot of money working as a business woman. That I am being serious and thinking about what to do with my future."
"I'm not kidding Ui-chan. This is not something silly that I'm making up just to try and impress you. I really, really want to do this. To think that the only one who really stood up for me was Nodoka-chan..." ended Yui dejectedly towards the end.
Ui was quite stunned at the minor outburst coming from her sister. While Yui was not yelling, kicking or screaming this was the most upset and dare she say, most serious that Ui had ever heard her older sister sound in a very long time.
I-Is that what you really think onee-chan? That I'm not taking you seriously? I didn't mean for it come out like that just that...
"You know Ui I sometimes I feel like other people think I am not going to do well when I graduate. I know I act silly and can be totally dumb and lazy too but...but...it hurts...when everyone thinks that all you are is just some big dummy. Too dumb, too stupid and too silly to do anything important when I graduate. Even when my friends think I can't do anything on my own and try to decide my future for me."
"But you know what Ui-chan? I'm not mad at them or at you. It just hurts when nobody thinks you are capable of doing anything. Even your own little sister and-"
Ui could not take it anymore. Yui's depressed manner of speech, her heaving body, the utterly sad expression that had no business being on Yui's normally cheerful face had broken the dam from inside of Ui.
At once she sprang forward and latched on to her older sister sobbing heavily as she did so.
"I'm so sorry! I did not want for this to happen onee-chan! I'm so sorry for not believing in you, for thinking that you were not good enough to think of your own future. Never did I want you to ever feel that way. I-It's just that I'm so scared for you onee-chan. I'm scared that even if you make it into the business world the people there are just going to treat you so mean. I know they will. They'll make you do stuff for them and then make fun of you and make you cry and I could never bear to see you being miserable all your life." cried Ui onto her bigger sister, sobbing loudly through her words.
Yui's expression soon softened at her little sister's apology and at once Yui started to rub Ui's back, cooing her softly in attempt to get her to stop crying.
"There, there my Ui-chan. I know that you don't mean to hurt me. You know better than anybody that I could never be mad at you. And I know that you worry about me and I would worry too. But you know what? You shouldn't worry because this is what I chose to do. Besides Nodoka-chan is going to be there with me. I know that I can always count on her whenever I feel lost." said Yui in a comforting tone.
Ui felt awed at the fact that Yui had put some much thought into her future. For a moment Ui thought that Yui was another person. But as she looked up to stare deep into her older sister's eyes she could not help but feel at ease.
Of course Ui was still worried but she knew that now Yui was mature enough to tackle the challenge of her own future all on her own.
She has grown up so much just over the past few minutes. I know that if she keeps this up then she'll succeed. I know she will.
But then...if she is able to take care of herself then what do I do without her?
The thought of Yui suddenly leaving made Ui's spirits fall once again.
She'll leave me. Onee-chan will no longer need me to be around especially if Nodoka is going to be there to take care of her.
I-I don't want her to leave, not now...not ever!
Ui's eyes widened in surprise at where her thoughts were taking her and at once she felt ashamed at herself.
H-How could I think like that? What right do I have to make my onee-chan stay behind just because I'm going to be lonely without her? That's not fair to her. I shouldn't have to ask her to do that for me. She should be able to live her life however she wants and if I'm no longer going to be needed...then so be it.
However no matter how much Ui tried to tell herself that this was for the best she still could not help but feel miserable. All her life her sole happiness came from caring for her older sister. Most every other person would have found the job of taking care of their sibling's every needs to be a tiresome, annoying job.
But not Ui.
She thrived in making her older sister as happy as humanely possible. She would do anything for Yui.
E-Even letting her go...
"You know Ui-chan. Me and Nodaka-chan are going to be really busy once we graduate. She told me that I am going to have to study super hard on things I don't like to make it through college and get into...what was it called again? And intershit I think?" said Yui innocently.
Ui could not help but start to chuckle at Yui's unintended vulgarity.
"You mean internship onee-chan." corrected Ui with a small smile.
"Yeah that's it! I have to get into one of those and do alot more boring stuff. So I may not be around too much to visit."
"Of course I understand." replied Ui a bit dejectedly.
"I know that I'm going to miss you Ui-chan but once I finish I'll get a good job. So don't worry about me! I'll be fine!" replied Yui happily.
Ui felt herself tearing more and more on the inside but decided to put on a brave front and forced herself to smile before her older sister.
"That's great onee-chan. I'm glad that you have really thought about this. I'm sure that with Nodoka there I have nothing to worry about. I'm sure that she'll take care of you." replied Ui through a happily strained voice.
"Thank you Ui-chan! You don't how happy it makes me feel to know that you are behind me. It means alot to me Ui-chan...it really does." said Yui seriously before giving her younger sister one last hug before going upstairs to her room.
Once Yui was out of sight Ui let the facade fall and immediately went towards the pillow that Yui had been playing with earlier. Ui soon sat herself down on a nearby sofa and hugged the pillow to her.
It smells just like my onee-chan.
Ui knew that her days were numbered. The time for Yui to leave home to go to college and pursue her future was fast approaching.
I should be happy that onee-chan wants to do this. That she is so serious about her future and is willing to do things on her own now. Really...I should be jumping for joy now.
But why?
Why do I feel that the world is falling apart at the thought of onee-chan leaving? Why do I want her to not leave me, to change her mind and tell me that she wants to stay.
I-I don't care if she doesn't work at all once she graduates. I'll be glad to work and take care of her no matter what.
Is that what I truly want? To have onee-chan fail so that she could come back and continue to rely on me? H-How cruel of me to think that! How selfish!
I should be happy, I really should.
But I don't understand why I don't.
Before Ui knew what she was doing she threw the pillow hard across the living room and proceeded to cry once more.
Author's Note: More of a filler chapter than anything but I had wanted to highlight on some potential tension that was to occur due to Yui's choice. Aside from that hit me up and let me know what you all think.