Goodbye

Thank you Curisvary for the idea of this chapter

"Ayanokoji."

I glance at my shoulder, "Manabu?"

I come back from shopping whilst heading home.

But...

"Got a minute?"

I am called out by the student council president of the advanced nurturing high school.

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We settle on a bench, not too far away from the school. If I were to guess, picking this spot was no coincidence.

"How was it? Your life at this school?" He asks, gazing at the school.

"How was it? I've only been here for nearly an academic year, so it is far too early to judge."

"Mm, then, I shall rephrase. How is life so far at this school?"

I wonder what topic he wants to introduce through this question...

"It's an understatement to say my life has improved, as this school has practically changed my life. It sounds cliché, but I genuinely mean it."

"Really? That is good to hear."

"Why so?"

"It's good to hear that my final year as being the student council president is the year I made someone like you happy."

"Don't you want to thank someone for doing that?" I ask.

By someone, I mean her.

"Ah, I guess I oughta. I had been planning this for a while: to have a normal conversation with my little sister. After ignoring her for years, I thought I'd tell her my true thoughts. But..."

"But?"

"Ayanokoji, how should I put it... she doesn't hate me, right?"

"Hate? Manabu, the goal of her student life has been the same since we begun."

"And?"

"That goal has stuck with her even now, because her motive remains crystal clear to her. And that is, to impress you."

"Impress me..."

"She still desires to make you look at her as someone competent. Just because I somewhat got involved in her life, it does not change her dreams. To be brief, she still loves you."

"Love me, huh? Even when I didn't repay her with my love?"

"Have a conversation with her. You'll see her immense change, but you'll also see little to no change. She is still Horikita Suzune."

"I see. I get it... she's still that young person...?"

"No, she's grown. Independently and fearlessly. All whilst preventing to extinguish the feelings she has toward you."

"I see." He stands up, "I owe you one, Ayanokoji. Thank you."

"No problem." I also stand up, carrying my shopping bags.

"Next week, I'll be graduating from this high school. I doubt she will come to me herself, so, Ayanokoji. Bring her to me 30 minutes before I leave. You come too."

I sigh, "Are you sure I should interfere with familial partings?"

"Of course. After all, we, too, will become family."

It takes me a few seconds to decipher his words.

"Hoh?"

Marriage... huh?

"We'll carry this on when we part. See you then, Ayanokoji."

"Yeah..."

I see him off.

I would never have thought I would see someone as true family.

"I guess she has played a huge part of my life..."

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31st March

The last few hours of being first years... and also...

The day that only tears and bittersweet memories can define, has finally come.

Although no one of huge significance were to leave from my side, someone that will be of significance is to leave which meant I will have to see him off.

However, I will merely be the spectator.

"Suzune."

I see her standing alone, staring at people expressing their goodbyes to the third years.

I also stand to stare.

"Kiyotaka... days really go by fast, doesn't it?"

"I suppose so."

"It's almost as if it has been a week since we started... and a day since I dated you. Really, time is ruthlessly fast..."

"I see. And? Is there not something you want to do before that time runs out?"

She looks at me, "You know... where he is?"

"Merely by coincidence, did I hear someone say Horikita Manabu was waiting by the entrance of the school... all alone."

"Alone...?"

I check my watch.

"11:50 is the current time. 40 minutes before his departure, and 40 minutes will he be waiting for a certain someone. That is something I also heard by pure coincidence."

"D-Did brother tell you this?"

"Who knows?"

"Please tell me..."

Her eyes were glistening with hope,

"Yes, he told me to bring you to him. He has something to tell you."

She gasps, "I see..."

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Her anxiety as we near him grew significantly.

A brother can cause one to exude such anxiety to such extent.

It goes to show the problems between these sibling, however...

Those problems will surely now, disappear.

"Manabu," I call out.

He turns around, "Ah. You came. Thank you, Ayanokoji."

"No, don't just thank me. Thank your little sister."

"Mm?" He glares down at a certain person, "Suzune, how is the promise holding up? The promise of rising to a higher class?"

She lowers her head, "Brother... we... rose to class C..."

"Class C, eh? So you guys are actually making progress?" He adjusts his glasses, "But I tell you what, Suzune. You merely rose a single place in the hierarchy within the span of an academic year, and with two more years left, at best, you will be Class B. You know what that means, don't you?"

"Yes... brother..."

"You'll have to try harder and harder. The top is full of talents, and beating them is no easy feat."

"I know... but..." Suddenly, she raises her head, "I can do it."

We both widen our eyes.

"My purpose of rising isn't limited to impressing you, but to meet my own standards I wanted in me. So, I'll give it my best. The best I'll ever do, and if I fail, I'll multiply my efforts until I'll surely rise to the top. I'll make sure that I'm not known as your little sister, but as Suzune."

When... did she have such resolve?

"You'll quit following my path?"

"Yes... this is my own. I'll follow through my own ideals first, and then your own. I can't chase after you, no, I can't even look at you. You're far too ahead, I can't imagine catching up. Instead, I'll pave another path befitting of myself. That way, I'll go further more efficiently, and be an aspirational figure for others, just like you were to me."

"Hoh?" He smiles, before looking at me.

"Was Ayanokoji Kiyotaka the cause of this development?"

Suzune also looks at me, "Well, it would be a lie if I say he wasn't a part of it..."

"Now that I think about it, you never did tell me, did you?"

"Eh?"

"How about this, let us stray from that topic and talk about what a big brother should talk about."

"W-What do you mean?"

"Suzune, how is your romantic life?"

She takes a step back, "I-I..."

"What's that?"

"Well... you see..." she grabs my hand, and stares at her feet, "M-Me and Kiyotaka are d-dating..."

I look at Manabu. He closes his eyes.

"Is that so? When you say you want to follow your own path, do you mean getting a lover before I do?"

"Huh? N-Not at all!"

"I get it now, the first step of differing from your brother is following the exact opposite romantic status, is that right?"

"E-Eh? No, I-"

Manabu places his hand on her head, and caresses it, "You picked a special one. If it were someone else, I would most likely object, but since it's the man himself, Ayanokoji, I'll leave you two together peacefully. Good on you, Suzune. You hit the jackpot."

"Jeez, he's not that awesome. You're better than he is, brother..."

"Really? That's good to hear," he looks at me, "Hear that, Ayanokoji?"

I nod, "I guess I was never meant to be compared to you, let alone be superior."

"Well, one day we'll truly find out, when we're officially brothers-in-law."

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"B-B-Brother! W-W-What are you talking about?!"

"The next step is marriage, Suzune. You'll never beat me unless you marry. As your big brother, it is my duty to ensure that happens."

"M-Marry? Isn't it... too early to talk about that?"

"It's never too early for anything, except the obvious."

"The obvious?" She is confused.

Unfortunately, I am not confused.

"You'll understand one day, though, Ayanokoji... if you do understand, I trust you won't do anything silly to my sister."

"I hope so..."

"Anyway, Suzune. Make sure to invite me to the ceremony."

"We will, Manabu," I say, considering that Suzune is not in the mental state to say anything.

"Kiyotaka..."

I wonder, if the three of us will have a moment like this ever again.

At least, it will not happen until we get excluded, or the two years before we graduate.

I'm sure, until that time comes, nothing will change.

We'll be laughing and joking, just like today.

The only difference is that we will grow up,

And of course, we would all have graduated from Class A.

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It's been 30 minutes. Within those 30 minutes, Suzune and Manabu were catching up to date with their lives.

Smiling like siblings.

I hope to see this scenario play out in the future once more.

So that this memory does not become bittersweet.

But for now...

"Huh?"

Suddenly,

we hear the sound of a bus gradually stopping.

The 12:30 bus arrives, just as the clock hits the time.

"It's here, huh?" Manabu turns around.

"Brother..."

"I guess it's time to leave."

"Already?"

"Yes, I'm afraid, good things always come to an end. But it won't be the last time we'll talk like this. It will be the first of many."

"Yes..."

"Suzune..." he turns back, "You realize now, don't you?"

"Realize? Realize what?"

"All I wanted was to see your growth. After all these years of dismissing you, I finally see someone released from the ideals of her big brother. I'm sorry for acting so distant, but it was the only way we can talk like family."

He looks at me.

"Ayanokoji, you sped up the development of my little sister, and even made her happier than she ever was. For that, I can't thank you enough."

"No problem, I guess."

"Please help her reach the goals that you made her realize."

"Yeah..."

"Don't spoil her too much, nor make her aspire to be like you."

"I'll try..."

"And be with her until the end."

"Of course."

"Then, I'll leave her in your care..." she turns back to Suzune, "And Suzune..."

"Y-Yes, brother?"

He wraps his arms around her, "Good luck."

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The future bears many dreams, and tries its utmost to fulfil them. It fulfils most, but of those that are not fulfilled, it will gather itself hatred from its clients.

And that is why we must ask ourselves, not the future, to bring our dreams into reality.

How?

We must act in the present:

I will rise to class A, alongside her.

I will elude myself from the chains of my father.

And, of course...

I will pledge my undying love, and marry her.

Next chapter... is... a...

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Thanks for reading! (Would appreciate followers hehe)