I Can Distinguish the Twin Sister - Chapter 28

“By the way, what’s that?”

　After school, I walk alone in a shopping street.

　The reason why I’m in a shopping street is that my mother asked me to buy some groceries.

“Oh, it’s Akito-kun, isn’t it? Are you shopping? “

“Yes. My mother asked me to go shopping.”

“Oh, yeah. Then we got some nice eggplants today. Take them with you.”

“Are you sure? “

“Of course. Oh, and these potatoes are free too.”

“Thank you! “

　It’s not the first time my mother has asked me to buy something for her, so I often meet old men and women I know when I come to the shopping street like this.

　Especially the old lady in front of me now. She often gives me various vegetables when I see her like this, probably because I met her when I picked up something she dropped.

( I don’t know if it’s okay, but I think accepting good intentions is better. )

　I had refused at first, but the old lady’s persistence made me accept the vegetables, which is how it is now.

“Thank you, old lady! “

“Here you are. Come again. “

　I got fresh eggplants and potatoes!

　Well, this is not what I’m looking for, so I have to go home and buy some food so my mom won’t complain…

“So, you know…”

“That is really funny～.”

　Just because it’s a shopping street doesn’t mean there are no young people here, and I could see students from other places I don’t usually see after school at mine.

　While I overheard someone talk like a gal, I proceeded to do the shopping my mother had asked me to do.

“Are you free tomorrow? “

“I can’t make it tomorrow because I’m going to see a movie.”

“What are you going to see? “

“That thing that’s all the rage these days. You know, the one where you have to solve a crime?”

“Oh, I know that one. The killer is ○○.”

” …now, I’m free tomorrow. Where do you want to go? “

　I stopped shopping and looked at them.

　The switch is a great one, and I can’t help but be caught up in the fast-paced exchange of dialogue that is surprising even for today’s comic storytelling. My attention is drawn to the high schooler in question.

　For those of us who were looking forward to the movie, he was probably spoiled so much that nobody couldn’t complain, even if he hurt that person… That guy made a clenched fist but never threw it, which made me want to learn from him as a strong person.

” …Okay, so that’s it.”

　Having finished buying most of what I was asked to buy, I left the shopping street with my shopping bag in my hand.

　It’s not even 5 o’clock yet, since I went shopping right after school today.

　So I change my route to take a short detour.

” ….fuhh.”

　It was quite heavy with the baggage I was carrying on my back and the shopping bags.

　But just walking like this is good exercise for me, and it seems to be a good way to build up my arm muscles, I think to myself with a smile.

　As I mentioned earlier, my mother often asks me to shop for groceries.

　The reason why I never refuse her unless I have something important to do is that she cooks me a delicious meal and lunch box every day.

“Uncompensated love… This is the least I can do as a son.”

　Well, I can say that because I have been blessed with a good family.

　I wish I could prepare something to express my gratitude to my mother and father in a simple way, but I don’t know what to do…

　I don’t know where I’m walking to, thinking… that I seem to be in a daze right now. I don’t know why I’m going in this direction subconsciously.

” ….what? “

　I walked in this direction as if something was pulling me there.

　In the middle of the busy shopping street, which was not as busy as the downtown area, I saw a back that caught my attention.

“Ah… “

　It was Rin’ne.

　Rin’ne was being courted by a college-aged guy who was obviously annoying with her.

　I mean, I’ve seen that guy before――when I went out with Rin’ne, he was trying to hit on her just as we were about to meet up.

“It’s hard being beautiful, isn’t it?”

　It’s strange that now that I’ve gotten to know them better, I can tell whether they like someone or not just by looking at their posture.

　Rin’ne was about to walk away when I realized that I had to help her because he had bad feelings… toward her.

[ I’ll always protect you, Ri-chan! I’ll take care of you! ]

　In an instant, I remembered the old days.

　Because we were in different kindergartens, there were boys who used to mess around with Rin’ne and Yomi, among them, of course.

　It is a common thing for young children to mess around with girls they like…

( I remember it was like that at that time.)

　Rin’ne cried when a boy grabbed her shoulder or grabbed her hair.

　Yomi was not around at that time, so there was no one to rely on ―I ran to her right away and told her it would be all right, that I would protect her, right?

　I went to Rin’ne’s place as if I could surrender to the feeling that everything was the same as that time.

“Rin’ne.”

” …Eh? “

　I put my hand on her shoulder, and she turned around in surprise.

　I rolled my eyes, smiled at her, and then glared at the man who had approached Rin’ne.

“I could hear you talking when I came close to you. She didn’t want to go, but why were you forcing her? “

“Ah… you’re that guy from back then? Just stay out of it if you―”

“Stay out of it? Stop joking――This girl means a lot and is important to me, okay?”

　I jokingly pulled a green onion out of the shopping bag and held it like a sword.

　Although they are so weak that they can be easily broken off, it should be a comforting sight to Rin’ne, who has been annoyed by the clinging man for a long time.

　Rin’ne seemed to have already lost sight of the man and was giggling amusedly at me holding the green onion.

“Let’s go, Rin’ne!”

　I put the green onion back and grabbed Rin’ne’s hand.

　My fingers and Rin’ne’s fingers are naturally intertwined.. but I feel sorry because my hand was holding the green onion before.

　The man seemed to want to say something else but seemed to have given up as he was getting a lot of stares from the others.

“Akito-kun. It’s all right now. “

“Oh. “

　I stopped at some distance and faced Rin’ne.

　She sniffed her palm as if sniffing and laughed at the smell of green onion, and I apologized to her honestly.

　Rin’ne stared at me, saying there was no need to apologize.

　I wondered if it was the sunset that made her cheeks look somewhat red or if it was because…

“Thank you. You said that… I was important to you, didn’t you? “

“Ah… yes, I’m not wrong, am I? It’s true you’re an important friend, but the situation also kind of reminds me of the past.”

“The old days?”

“Yeah.”

　I was too embarrassed to speak as I was, but I continued to speak as if I had made up my mind.

“I said I’ll protect and take care of you.”

“…ah”

　These words seemed to remind Rin’ne of what I had said.

　I wonder what Rin’ne thinks as she lowers her gaze and turns her head down… Honestly, I’m also a little overwhelmed, and my face is so hot that I’d like to leave and go home soon if I could.

“So, well, I’ll protect Rin’ne! Of course, it’s the same for Yomi. Anyway, my body just moved before I realized it! “

　I was able to pull her away from the guy, so I decided that this story was over, and I started to walk away.

　As I walk away, Rin’ne hugs me from behind ――as if the situation is reversed. Rin’ne puts her arms around my stomach and hugs me even tighter.

　Although Rin’ne pulled away from me immediately, it was inevitable that it felt like quite a long time.