Kono Monogatari O Kimi Ni Sasagu - Volume 1 Chapter 2.15

However, she was in a wheelchair. It was a lingering reminder of Yuto’s guilt.

Should he bow his head to the ground and apologize? Or should he wait to be scolded? He felt like a criminal awaiting judgment.

As Yuto hesitated, Haruka spoke hesitantly.

“Um… Nii-san…”

“Ah, yes…”

Yuto clenched his fists to endure the pain in his chest.

In contrast, Haruka, as if making up her mind, spoke again.

“The play was really good.”

“Huh…?”

Yuto let out a foolish sound at the unexpected words.

“The play?”

Haruka nodded and continued, though still hesitant.

“Um… What moved me the most was when Hiyori, who tried to escape death, finally accepted it, and the shinigami Ren guided her soul. I couldn’t stop my tears… And well, it felt like your story, Nii-san.”

Haruka smiled shyly, then noticed Yuto’s dumbfounded look and tilted her head anxiously.

“Nii-san…? What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong…? Everything… How are you here? Have you been well? How’s your health? Are you okay coming all the way here? Did you come alone? Did you watch today’s play? Are you okay with stories now? What have you been doing these three years?”

There were so many things he wanted to ask and say that he couldn’t get the words out.

At that moment, Kotoha spoke up.

“I invited your sister.”

“Invited…? But you didn’t have Haruka’s contact info…”

He hadn’t given it to her. He hadn’t even told her Haruka’s name.

“I asked your homeroom teacher.”

Kotoha casually told the bewildered Yuto.

At her words, Yuto’s shoulders slumped. He remembered when Kotoha had shown up at his house, the information source was also the homeroom teacher.

“How did you convince them to give you family contact details…?”

“That’s a secret.”

Kotoha laughed with a mischievous grin. Yuto didn’t even feel like joking back.

“She first sent me a letter, Kotoha-san.”

Haruka added.

“Then we started emailing. Kotoha-san even came to Nagoya once. That’s when she told me she was working on a play script with you, and I asked if I could watch it.”

“What…?”

Yuto choked on his words. He hadn’t been in contact with Kotoha for almost a month, and during that time, she had done this. But more confusing was—

“Why do you want to watch it…?”

“Why…? Why wouldn’t I?”

Haruka tilted her head in puzzlement. Yuto hesitantly voiced his doubts.

“Because… Three years ago, you were so hurt because of my novel, ended up in this state… I thought you wouldn’t want to see any story, especially not mine. Don’t you hate me for it?”

There was no immediate response to Yuto’s strained question.

The stillness of the now-empty gym seeped through the glass.

“No, nii-san.”

Haruka’s clear words broke the silence.

She looked at Yuto with unwavering eyes.

“Yes, three years ago, I heard baseless things at school, couldn’t walk due to the stress, and couldn’t read novels or watch movies.”

“Then, you still—”

Driven by guilt, Yuto tried to speak, but Haruka shook her head to stop him.

“But that’s not your fault. The people who spread those rumors are the ones to blame.”

Unable to meet Haruka’s gaze, Yuto looked down.

“Even so, my novel was the trigger. You have every right to hate me. I don’t deserve to write stories anymore…”

“Even though I want to read them?”

Haruka’s words made Yuto look up in surprise.

“Hey, nii-san, I’ve always been waiting for your stories. Both then and now.”

Suddenly, a memory from their childhood resurfaced in his mind.

A room filled with books.

A slightly sweet, vanilla-like scent of old books.

Yuto and Haruka sitting against the bookshelf, bathed in the sunset.

In that cramped space, they had an infinite world.

“Hey, Nii-san.”

Haruka smiled without a trace of worry.

“I never hated you or your stories because of what happened three years ago. I never thought you hurt me.”

“But… Then why haven’t we been in contact these three years?”

At Yuto’s words, Haruka puffed her cheeks in annoyance.

“Because you left suddenly! Without explaining anything to me!”

Then her tone softened.

“I thought you found me a burden. That’s why I didn’t reach out. But if leaving helped you write again, I thought that was better.”

Haruka’s voice grew hoarse, and her eyes filled with tears. As the tears threatened to fall, she looked up to hold them back.

Yuto could only watch her in a daze.

He felt stupid.

Not Haruka, but himself.

He had never imagined it.

Haruka, who had been hurt, unable to walk, and couldn’t read her favorite books, didn’t hate him at all. Instead, she had been concerned for his future as a writer.

“I didn’t say enough… No, I said far too little. I’m truly sorry…”

His voice trembled as he apologized. For three years, he had run from writing and lived aimlessly. He avoided facing Haruka, convincing himself she hated him. He didn’t realize that was a terrible insult, causing her more pain.

“I should’ve conveyed my feelings in words too. I’m sorry for making you suffer.”

“No, it’s not your fault, Haruka. It’s my fault for leaving without saying anything.”

“No, if I had communicated better—”

“Alright, enough from both of you.”

Just as they started apologizing to each other, Kotoha interjected.

“A simple thank you is enough. You both acted out of concern for each other.”

Kotoha then realized something and looked startled.

“Sorry for butting in.”

“No, it’s fine…”

Actually, Kotoha was right, Yuto thought.

To resolve three years of misunderstanding, simple words might be best.

“…Thank you, Haruka.”

“Yeah, thank you,Nii-san.”

Haruka smiled softly. Yuto hadn’t expected to see that smile again, and it made him incredibly happy.

“That’s why I came today, to say everything properly in words.”

“Everything?”

Yuto tilted his head.

“Nii-san, I heard you think you don’t have talent.”

Yuto choked on his words. Kotoha must have told her.

“… That’s what I think. I ruined several projects three years ago.”

As Yuto said this, Haruka sighed in disbelief.