Chapter 4 – Secret Connected Paths
Mugi's POV
"Aw, man! We were so close!"
"Yeah I know, Yui." Ricchan said to her. "She's a tough one to crack. We'll have to try harder tomorrow."
"Don't you two see it?! She doesn't want to join! She's said it numerous times already!" Mio-chan yelled at them.
"Oh come on, Mio. We can't give up yet. After all, we've got a secret weapon now. Right, Azusa?"
"Non, vous dirigez le débile."
(No, you airheaded moron.)
"See? She agrees with me."
"How do you know?! She was speaking French!"
"Ugh. Fine. Mugi you agree with, right?"
…
"Mugi?"
…
"Mugi…"
"Yes, I can play an instrument. But I have no interest in making music. At least…not anymore."
"I just…I have personal reasons."
Not anymore? Personal reasons? What could she mean by those? Could it really be…
"Yo! Mugi!"
"H-Huh?!" I suddenly came out of my thoughts through someone calling my name.
"You feeling alright? You spacing out isn't exactly normal."
"Oh, was I really spacing out? Well, no need to worry. I'm fine. I'm just, um…going to head home now."
"Huh? But what about practice?" Yui-chan asked.
"I'm terribly sorry." I said with a bow. "But something just came up. I'll be here tomorrow, though. Goodbye for now."
I then left the clubroom and headed out for the front of the school. While doing so, I went back into my own thoughts. Mainly about what happened earlier.
No interest because of personal reasons…If what I'm thinking is true, then…
…
*sigh* Miharu Neroni…never did I believe that we would cross paths at long last.
Miharu's POV
"Man. Those girls just don't give up, do they? Why is it that I'm their only choice for a new member? They can't ask anyone else? I mean…based on what Nodoka said, there are five sets of 11th graders there. Why can't they ask one of them?"
…
"*sigh* Whatever. I need to stop thinking about it. Before that memory comes back to haunt me again. I am here to start a new life. Technically."
I was now walking home from the crazy-as-hell first day I had. The schools back home were WAY less crazy. Here, every moment was something unusual and not normal. And I have to do this for another year and a half?
God, give me strength...
I finally reached the hotel and entered it to see Mikuru sweeping up the floor. The door I came in had a bell at the top of it. So it made a noise once I opened and closed it. Gaining her attention.
"W-Welcome, dear gues…Miharu-san. You have returned."
"Hey, Mikuru. Where's your mom?"
"Mother went to the store to pick up ingredients for tonight's dinner. It is said to be another traditional Japanese cuisine."
"I see. Can't wait for it. I'm just going to lay down a bit. I've had a long day."
"I see. Rest well, Miharu-san." Mikuru said with a bow.
She's such a nice kid. Didn't Yoriko say that she's always wanted an older sister? I guess she's starting to see that in me...
I went to my room and changed out of my uniform into some comfortable home clothes before lying down on the futon. A few minutes pass…and then the few become a lot. Like 40 minutes or so. I just couldn't stop thinking of today's events.
And in turn…came THAT memory.
"*sigh* Man. I was hoping that I'd never had to think of that ever again. Thanks to those girls, it's back to haunt me once more."
I looked over at the picture of my mom and then later grabbed it. Shedding multiple tears as I held the frame tight in my hands.
"*sniff* Damnit, Mom. Why'd you have to die? You were one of the few people that truly appreciated my love for…"
*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*
"Y-Yes?" I panicked as I quickly wiped away my tears.
"Hey, Miharu. Did you invite a friend over here?" Yoriko asked as she opened the door.
"Huh? Invite a friend? I haven't even made friends yet."
"Really? Well, there's a girl out front wanting to see you. I thought you invited her."
"What?" I was totally confused. "Okay, now I want to see who this is. Probably a joke or something."
"Alright. If you want. I was just going to throw her out, anyway."
I followed Yoriko out to the front to meet this mysterious girl. And once I caught a glimpse of her, let me just say…"mysterious" is the perfect word to describe her.
"Hello, Miharu-chan."
"What the? Mugi? What are you doing here?"
"So, you do know her?" Yoriko asked me.
"Well…kinda. We did meet during lunch today."
Though, I still feel like I got screwed…
"Good afternoon, ma'am." Mugi said with a bow. "My name is Tsumugi Kotobuki. I'm in the same class as Miharu-chan."
"K-Kotobuki?!" Yoriko yelled in shock. "O-Oh, are you now? N-Nice to meet you, Kotobuki-san. I'm Yoriko Tamura."
"Nice to meet you as well, Tamura-san."
"S-So...does this make you two friends, Miharu?" Yoriko asked me.
"Uh…"
Wait, what was that reaction? Does Yoriko know Mugi or something?
"…I guess."
"Well, that's good. Then I guess I'll just leave you two alone for now. Great to see that you've already made a friend, Miharu."
"Thanks(?)." I said with a puzzled look.
Once Yoriko had gone back to tending the other guests, I turned my attention to Mugi, who currently had a small grin on her face.
"Okay, for real. How did you know that I live here?" I asked her.
"I contain magical mind-reading powers and I was able to read your mind."
…
…
...
"Wh-What? A-Are you serious?" I looked at her with a freaked-out look.
"*giggle* No, not really. I was at the airport yesterday returning from a family trip. I saw you getting on the bus that comes to this hotel and I just kept the name as a memory."
"Huh…I guess that makes sense."
She has a really impressive memory...
"So, why are you here, Mugi? If this is another attempt to get me to join that club of yours then I don't want to hear…"
"Miharu-chan…you seem empty inside."
"Wh-What?!" I reacted greatly to what this girl had just said to me.
"*clears throat* I'm sorry. What I meant to say was…you seemed a little sad when you last rejected our invitation to join. I felt like something was bothering you and I grew concerned. So, I came here hoping we could talk."
"Y-You grew concerned? Over me? But we just met a few hours ago."
"I know, but…I just…felt this special bond with you. It may sound weird, but it's true."
"Special bond?" I had no idea what this girl was talking about. And my list of reasons for finding her creepy was steadily growing.
"Miharu-chan…I just want to talk. Can we at least do that? Please?"
…
…
...
"I…*sigh* fine. I guess it wouldn't hurt to just talk a little." I finally gave in. "You wanna head for my room? It's quiet there."
"Okay. Thank you so much, Miharu-chan." Mugi said with a smile and a few giggles.
This girl…she's so weird.
Mugi's POV
"Wow…Miharu-chan, your room is amazing." I said as I entered Miharu-chan's room.
"Is it really? Yoriko told me that it's the same as the others. Plain and basic."
"It's the plain and basic that makes it so awesome."
"Huh?" Miharu-chan looked confused.
"I come from a wealthy family."
"Oh. I see. Well, makes yourself comfortable, I guess. There isn't much to do in here. I don't have much."
"It's fine." I took off my shoes and placed my school bag near the door before sitting on one of the pillows at the table. While Miharu-chan sat on her futon.
"So, what do you plan on getting out from me, Mugi? I'm not saying much. I've got things that are personal for a reason."
"I understand, Miharu-chan. So, you're a foreigner, correct? What made you move to Japan?"
"I, uh…" Right away, Miharu-chan began to stall. I can tell that she's trying to think of an answer that isn't the truth. Granted, I don't know what the truth is. But whatever she's about to say won't be it.
"Oh, you know. Life stuff. Can't do anything about that. Hehhehheh."
"I see."
Wow. She's worse at lying than Ricchan is...
"And so I moved here on my own. Yoriko's a family friend and she's letting me stay here rent-free. It's all pretty simple from there."
Pretty simple? I feel like you've purposely skipped a few details, Miharu-chan…
"So, is that really it? Kinda weird how you came all the way here just to ask why I moved here. That's a pretty weird thing to do…"
"Miharu-chan. I know you're lying."
"H-Huh?"
"I'm pretty sure that it wasn't "life stuff" that made you move here. I was hoping you would at least tell me some variant of the truth. But I guess I was wrong to be concern about you."
"L-Look, Mugi. We only just meet today. I wanted to be left alone. But you and your friends kept bugging me about joining this stupid club of yours. Not to mention that I was basically tricked into stepping foot into that room with your sweets. So, excuse me if I don't trust you. I honestly think you're weird, anyway."
"I'M weird because I ended up caring about you wanting to keep your personal matters a secret more than the others? Yui-chan and Ricchan are the ones who keep pushing your buttons. Hell, Ricchan nearly exposed your panties while doing so."
"Don't bring that up!" Miharu-chan yelled at me. "I'm still pissed at her for even thinking that I can just forgive her for that. God, do you girls EVER take a damn hint?"
This girl…she has no manners!
"Hmph. Well, I'm SO sorry, Miharu-chan. Sorry that you want to be a loner your whole life. You know…knowing your true feelings, I wonder if your mother was the exact same."
"You little…how the hell do you know my mother?! And what gives you any damn right to say ANYTHING about her?! Let alone that?!"
"Oh? Do you really want to know? Well, sorry. That reason is PERSONAL!"
"Grr…you little…coming over here unexpectedly and entering MY room talking crap about my mother. Just who the hell do you think you are, you egotistical bitch?!"
Egotistical bitch?! Now she's really pushing MY buttons! Freaking hypocrite!
"You want to know?! You REALLY want to know?!"
"Yes, damnit! I REALLY want to know! So, quit wasting my time and tell me already!"
"Fine! I'll tell you! My name is Tsumugi Kotobuki! AND I'M YOUR HALF-SISTER!"
…
…
…
…
…
…
"Wh…Wh-What?" Miharu-chan stared at me with a look of total shock as her body had completely frozen up.
O-Oh, no! I've said too much!
"I-I-I'm sorry! I-I-I don't normally lose my temper like that! I-I-I'm gonna go now!"
I quickly got my shoes on and grabbed my school bag as I made a run for it for the exit. I had to pass by a few of the other guests who were concerned about the yelling and shouting. I would stop and apologize to them all, but I really just wanted to get out of here.
And I was so close, too. But then I felt a tug on my arm. And I knew who it was.
"Mugi…don't you dare leave. What you just said…what the hell was that?"
"Let me go, Miharu-chan. I have nothing to say."
"Idiot. You think you can just say something like that and leave without explaining it? I thought you were concerned about me. Are you screwing with me AGAIN, you asshole?!"
"I said let me go!" I jerked my arm out of Miharu-chan's grasp. But unintentionally turned to face her. And I saw the most heart-wrenching thing in my life.
Miharu-chan…she had tears running down her eyes. Mixed tears…of anger, sadness, and emotional pain. And it hurt me because…I was the one that made her feel this way.
"Mi…Miharu-chan, I…"
"Hey. Girls." We heard someone call out to us.
"Y-Yoriko."
"T-Tamura-san."
"Come with me. It seems like…that it's finally time."
Miharu-chan had no idea what she was talking about. But I did. This was actually something that I was never supposed to bring up. To keep hidden forever.
And honestly…I wished I had listened.
Author's Note: Wh-What did Mugi just say? She and Miharu are…half sisters?! What secret did she just unearthed from the grave? Find out in the next chapter. Thanks for reading. Later.