Himegi-san a Bride from the Future Begs Me to Confess My Love to Her Again - Volume 2 Chapter 4

The Promise Between Me and the Princess’ Older Sister

Several weeks have passed since Touka-san returned to the future.

It seems she had said her goodbyes over the phone, but my parents are still saddened over Touka-san’s departure from our home.

To tell the truth, I’m lonely without Touka-san too.

However, I don’t have time for regrets right now.

I made a promise with Touka-san; she entrusted me with Natsumi-san and the Himegi family.

That’s why I don’t have time to wallow in sadness.

So I’ve been visiting Natsumi-san in the hospital frequently recently.

Sometimes with Kanako, sometimes with Takashi Harukawa, and at times, I took my own parents to visit Natsumi-san’s hospital room.

I think Natsumi-san was happy to see us.

At the very least, she didn’t seem to find it bothersome.

But reality is indeed cruel; Natsumi-san’s condition worsened each time I visited.

Eventually, she even had difficulty walking on her own.

And then, Natsumi-san was discharged from the hospital.

No explanation was given, but I understood that she wasn’t discharged because she had recovered.

Probably, it was for spending her limited remaining time in the place where she was born and raised.

In other words, it meant that Natsumi-san didn’t have much time left.

A few days after she returned to her mansion, I was invited to the Himegi estate under the pretense of a ‘discharge celebration.’

Unlike Harune-chan’s birthday party, today’s gathering was a small indoor party.

It wasn’t as large as Harune-chan’s birthday party, but it seemed that several dozen people were invited.

Naturally, that included both me and Kanako.

There were also friends of Natsumi-san, and people who appeared to be her former mentors.

At Natsumi-san’s request, I was set to perform magic tricks in front of everyone.

My partner for today was not Himegi-san but Natsumi-san, who was in a wheelchair.

This was also at her request.

Even though she’s the guest of honor and the one supposed to be entertained, she wants to entertain others; Himegi Natsumi must be inherently someone who enjoys making people happy.

“Now, I will bend the spoon that Natsumi-san is holding using telekinesis…”

I casually twirl the wand in my hand.

Then, the spoon in Natsumi-san’s hand——

“…Hakuba-kun, it’s not bending?”

“Ah, my apologies. It seems I didn’t focus enough.”

I twirl the wand in my hand once again.

“…Hakuba-kun, it’s still not bending…”

“Huh? Th-that’s strange? Then, let’s try once more.”

I pretend to be flustered. Of course, it’s all an act——

“Ah! Harune’s spoon is bending!”

“Eh? Ah! Takakyun, look, look, my spoon is bending too!”

“It seems I accidentally bent someone else’s spoon. It can’t be helped. Natsumi-san, can you shake that spoon with all your might?”

“Okay. ——Hya!”

Then the spoon she was holding——

“Ah! It changed into a fork!”

Laughter and applause arise from the audience.

Natsumi-san, who is next to me, is also giggling.

The most joyous part of performing magic tricks is being able to see people’s smiles.

There’s no time when I feel more glad to have learned magic.

Afterward, I performed various tricks using bills, coins, and cards and turned a water-filled bottle upside down without the water falling out.

Each trick brought laughter from the audience.

Today’s magic was focused more on making people laugh rather than surprising them.

I thought that would make both Natsumi-san and everyone else happier.

In the end, I’m glad I went with that.

I didn’t make the wrong choice this time. And as the enjoyable party ended, I was in the garden with Natsumi-san.

I was sitting on a wooden bench, and she was next to me in her wheelchair, holding a white frog plushie I had seen before.

Apparently, it was a gift from Himegi-san.

“Thank you for today. It was fun.”

“No, I’m glad everyone enjoyed it.”

She had a silver bracelet on her left arm.

Both Himegi-san and Harune-chan had the same bracelets.

It seems the sisters decided to wear matching items.

Surely, these bracelets are a testament to the sisters’ bond.

“I’m really glad everyone enjoyed it. If I had messed up, I would’ve had to take off this wig (カツラ, katsura).”

“At least call it a wig (ウィッグ,wiggu).”

“Well, I’m glad it didn’t happen.”

A pleasant wind blows.

The grass sways, and the sound of insects can be heard.

“Spring is almost over…”

“…Yes, it is.”

Natsumi-san closes her eyes, feeling the spring breeze.

Surely, for her, spring is a season that will never come again.

Thinking about it makes parting even more painful…

“———You passed!”

“——Uh?”

“I said, you passed. I can entrust Touka, my family, to you…”

” …. “

“Hakuba-kun, this is the moment where you should be happy…”

“…Yes, you’re right.”

I’m genuinely happy to have received approval from Natsumi-san.

I think there’s nothing more honorable.

However, now I can somewhat understand the feelings of Harune-chan when she tried to run away from the birthday party.

I might have experienced the first real pressure in my life.

“…Are you feeling pressured?”

“I would be lying if I said no. But I made a promise to Touka-san, so I intend to face my responsibilities until the end.”

To be honest, I don’t have a shred of confidence.

I’m also overwhelmed by anxiety about whether I’ll end up being self-complacent again.

Even so, I can’t disregard the feelings of Touka-san and Natsumi-san.

And Touka-san told me. She said I am a person who uses his own abilities for the smiles of others.

I don’t want to make those words a lie.

So, I’ve decided to keep my promise to the two of them.

“That’s fine-that’s just fine. But, I just don’t want you to misunderstand one thing: I want you to remain as you are. Please, stay as you are.”

“I understand. I know I cannot become your substitute, Natsumi-san…”

“It’s okay to be uncertain. It’s alright to fail. It’s fine even if you can’t meet my expectations. However, I want you to share a bit of the pain with the family I loved. I understand I’m asking something hard, but even so, in the end, I want to choose you. Please make me feel happy that I made the right choice, that I chose you.”

“Alright.”

I nodded in agreement.

It seemed my short words satisfied Natsumi-san, and she smiled gently.

Ah, she really does have a wonderful smile, as expected of Himegi-san’s older sister…

“Thank you… Indeed, treasures do lie in the most terrifying caves.”

“…What does that mean?”

“Someday, Touka will tell you.”

“???”

Is it some kind of spell? Or maybe a quote from someone?

“…Well, even from a sister’s perspective, I think a man like Hakuba-kun suits a type like Touka the best. After all, my younger sister has more pride than anyone else yet is also more delicate than anyone. I can be at ease if a man who can be attentive like you is by her side.”

“I feel the same way, I do suit her best…”

“Ahaha… geez… Now, let’s go back to the room. The night wind is too harsh for the sick girl.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

It’s regrettable but… that’s it for today.

I escorted her to her room.

Until I escorted her to the room, Natsumi-san and I talked about various things with smiles.

Episodes from Natsumi-san’s student days and stories from when Himegi-san and the others were little.

I also told her various things. I spoke about why I aspired to perform magic, what I was doing before I performed magic, and about the siblings who would be born from now on.

It was a fun time.

Since I’m an only child, I wondered if having a sister would feel like this.

If the relationship between Natsumi-san and me continues from now on, I wonder what kind of siblings-in-law we will become…

Would we be able to laugh together as we do now?

I thought it would be nice if so.

If so, I felt it would be happiness.

I understand in my head that such a day won’t come, but still, I desired such a future.

Because… I know that future would be the best one.

A clever youngest child, a slightly clumsy second daughter who is the exact opposite of that, a moody father with a gentle mother, and lastly, the eldest daughter, always smiling, is at the center of everyone with a smile.

It’s a perfect family composition.

It would be nearly impossible to score full marks in any other way.

Then, reaching the room, we waved at each other with smiles.

We promised to meet again and exchanged farewells between her and me.

——But it didn’t happen that way.

God did not allow the continuation of the story, and the paths of her and me had the curtain fall here.

This became the last conversation between Natsumi-san and me.

This was the last goodbye between Natsumi and me.

She left this world soon after June arrived.

On the Himegi house——the sun disappeared.