Fair affection
Yui Narumi returns home. It was about time, as the entire day had been spent working hard, and Yui felt like she couldn't handle herself as soon as she lay down on the couch. One look around, and she sees that her husband was gone again. She hadn't seen him even once in the whole week, and that was starting to frustrate her. What was the point of getting married, if this was all that awaited them? She couldn't help but wonder how they had come to know each other and fall in love, but it was quite clear that their relationship had quickly deteriorated to the point of falling into decay, it's something that can be seen coming. At this rate it was just a matter of time before that marriage hit rock bottom and came to an end. It was depressing to see it that way, as they were both quite young and hadn't even been married for a year.
"Onee-chan? Are you home, onee-chan?".
Yutaka's arrival startles Yui a little. She hadn't expected her little sister to come to visit her. It was just as well, since Yui didn't want to sink into boredom alone. It was like a blessing that Yutaka came to visit.
"Here I am, Yutaka". Yui lazily raises her hand.
"I'm so glad you're here. I came here to ask if I could stay here".
"How?".
"It's just that my uncle left for a work trip this weekend, and Konata onee-chan will be with her friends tonight, plus I forgot to arrange a sleepover with Minami-chan and the others, so there's no one else I can be with". Says Yutaka with a blush. "Onee-chan, can I... stay here... tonight?"
Yui hesitates for a moment whether to answer or not. She didn't want to involve Yutaka in her frustration for the rest of the day, but she couldn't abandon her either, so she simply gets up heavily from the chair to approach her sister and nods with a kind smile.
"Make yourself at home, Yutaka".
"Thank you, onee-chan!".
The two sisters briefly embraced, and Yutaka then carried a backpack she had brought to the guest room. Yui was greatly relieved that she had made that decision. It meant that she wouldn't be alone there all day, as she didn't expect her husband to arrive that day (he hadn't even called her yet). It was still too early for dinner, so the two of them spent their time chatting and watching some television. That helped Yui to slowly de-stress, and it was something she really needed. She didn't even think about her ungrateful, always absent husband anymore.
"Do you want to take a bath together, Yutaka?". Yui suggested that evening, when they had already finished dinner.
"Yes, onee-chan!".
Bathroom
Yui was soaping her little sister's hair. She was surprised at how beautiful Yutaka's hair was, considering that her little sister had always been quite dependent, and Konata shouldn't have had much time to help her because of her long hair. Maybe she had to learn on her own, and that seemed a little sad to Yui. She would have liked to be there to help her and teach her, but that life change she had decided to take on made her leave her mother's home and distance herself a little. But despite that, Yutaka seemed happy.
"What are you laughing at, Yutaka?".
"I'm just so happy, onee-chan". Yutaka answers calmly. "We used to bathe together for quite some time now. I really miss when we used to do those things."
"Maybe we should try to do this more often. I actually think the idea is good". Yui said softly as she poured water on her little sister to remove the soap. "This kind of thing is always comforting to do, don't you think?".
"Yes".
Yutaka's hair was really silky and beautiful when the humidity made it shine. Yui thought that it was the first time she had seen something like that, and at that moment she wouldn't have minded if that pleasant moment between them lasted forever.
"Onee-chan, is your married life fine?". Yutaka says.
That question had burst the bubble that Yui was so comfortable in. The last thing she wanted was to remember that she had a husband... one who seemed more like a ghost or a memory than a real person. It had been a whole week since she saw him in person, not even once, and it seemed like that trend would continue for the next week. But she didn't want to pass that kind of frustration on to her little sister. She knew that he idolized her and that part of her own expectations of life were based on the image he had always had of her, so the best thing would be to lie a little.
"Well... yeah. It's pretty cool and all that". Yui says in a slightly forced manner. "And I'm sure that one day you could find someone who loves you and deserves you, and hopefully you'll end up marrying that someone".
"I don't know. I don't think it's that simple, onee-chan". Yutaka answers with a growing blush on her face. "The truth is that I already have someone I like a lot, but I don't know if it's a good idea to tell these person how I feel".
"You already have someone you like? That's great, Yutaka!". Yui says with genuine joy. "And who is that person? Is he perhaps a handsome boy from your class?".
"No, onee-chan. Is not a boy, and she's not in my class either".
"He's not a boy? Mmm... That would certainly complicate things a bit, because a relationship with another girl is not something that easy to carry out, despite everything done to make people understand that love has no gender, but is just love and that's it". Says Yui without being too surprised. Views and testimonies from third parties were not lacking to be more understanding on this subject. "There's nothing wrong with it anyway, Yutaka, although I suppose this means that you have to fight a little harder to be by that girl's side... But returning to the subject that interests me the most, can you tell me who it is?".
"Well... I don't know if I should tell you..."
"We are sisters, right? You can tell me anything, you know I can keep your secret if you want".
Yutaka was as red as her hair, and Yui waited happily for her to reveal who Yutaka liked. The little redhead swallowed thickly, undecided for a few moments, when she finally decided to reveal the truth.
"Do you really... do you really promise not to tell anyone?".
"Onee-chan's promise". Says Yui's sweet and determined as she raised her pinky.
The two sisters interlock their pinkies, and that gives Yutaka some confidence to tell the truth. Yui was fascinated, as she would finally know who the target of her little sister's love interest was. She really wanted to know.
But it wasn't words that came out of Yutaka's mouth. What he actually did was suddenly push herself up and kiss Yui on the lips, although it could be considered more of a lip lock. Yui was speechless, feeling that clumsy and inexperienced contact from Yutaka. She didn't understand where that girl, so innocent and shy, suddenly had the courage to kiss her like that. Yutaka moved away a little, and her eyes, shining like crystals, focused on Yui's.
"Yutaka..."
"I'm sorry, onee-chan, but you insisted on knowing, and I had no choice but to... well... I guess you already know".
Yutaka's blush made her reach new levels of cuteness. Truth be told, Yui strangely felt quite comfortable with the kiss, and even brought a few fingers to her lips, but even if she didn't, there was no way she could look down on her little sister. Her immediate reaction was to hug her gently and stroke her hair.
"You're a bold one, Yutaka. I'd really like to know where you learned those things from..."
"Ehhh... Well, sometimes Konata onee-chan lends me her mangas so I can entertain myself when I get bored, and sometimes I grab one that..."
"It doesn't matter. You don't need to go into details, Yutaka. Although it is true that Konata is not very careful with her things, so one of these days I should go talk to her. It wouldn't be nice if you suddenly end up reading a manga that is too strong and disturbing". Now Yui is the one who kisses Yutaka. "Do you want to know something? Something like that was needed to really brighten my day, or my night in any case".
"Onee-chan..."
"Long distance relationships are hard, Yutaka. Look at my example. I have to deal with a marriage where my husband and I barely get to see each other during the week if we're lucky, and that only brings difficulties to life as a couple".
"Does that mean that what you told me earlier was a lie?".
"Well, as the eldest, it is my duty to set an example and not trample on your dreams myself, Yutaka. As your sister, it is my duty to always look out for your well-being, even above my own. Even if I didn't accept what you just did, it is undeniable that I care a lot about you".
"What if I come to live with you, onee-chan? I also want your well-being, and that's why I wouldn't mind moving in with you". Yutaka suddenly suggests. "I want to be with you always, onee-chan, and for that reason I could come so that you don't feel alone and..."
"These is different". Yui laughs amused. "We see each other a lot more than just once or twice a month. We see each other practically every day, and even more so since I took you to uncle Soujiro's house. There's no need for you to come live here, because there's not a single day that I don't see you and smile about it, and it's pretty lonely here for us to be here permanently".
"Really, onee-chan?".
"Do you want a little test?".
They both kissed each other. Yui had suddenly found herself in a strange mix of guilty pleasure and the desire to experience a new feeling she was discovering. She loved being with Yutaka, and now she could see that the wonderful feeling she had could reach levels beyond what she had previously expected. No one could blame her for thinking that way. Like any human being, Yui needed the company and affection of someone who made her feel good, and Yutaka had just arrived to become that someone she needed so much.
End