But she didn't think there was anything wrong with leaving without saying goodbye...
She had simply glossed over everything he'd gone through during that time.
What... didn't he already know?
What... there was no need for her to go out of her way to tell him...
But...
Before he knew that Big Sis had really left and wouldn't come back here, all his confusion, bewilderment, helplessness, anxiety, and heartache...
How was he supposed to explain all that?
And the way he'd doubted himself.
Especially since the time Big Sis left had coincided exactly with the time his parents got divorced.
How heartbroken he'd been... it went without saying.
The boy didn't understand.
He really didn't understand.
The tension that had eased somewhat earlier returned.
And it was even worse than before.
He held his breath, waiting for Big Sis's answer.
It was rare for him to say so much to someone all at once.
Big Sis was truly a very special and important person to him.
He didn't want... any misunderstanding or rift between them.
"Is that so?"
Big Sis seemed completely unaware of how tense the boy was.
She blinked, looking a little confused.
"Did I need to say goodbye?"
"Of course."
The boy forcibly suppressed the emotions that had suddenly surged inside him.
He made himself calm down.
Although Big Sis's question sounded... rather jarring to him.
Saying goodbye before leaving...
Wasn't that only natural?
Even little kids knew that.
Big Sis... why did she look so unsure?
"But wouldn't you have found out on your own eventually?"
Big Sis still saw it that way.
"Why go out of your way to-"
"It wasn't going out of my way!"
The boy couldn't help raising his voice.
"I would find out eventually..."
"But what about