The Sisters' Telepathic Understanding (Part 2)

Since the three people talking had known Kitagawa Ryo for a long time, they naturally had a deep impression of his younger sister, who was two years younger than them. Therefore, they talked about the topic quite enthusiastically. Unfortunately, Amasawa Ichika had a similar vibe to her, was not here today. So, they didn't delve any further into the strange topic. As usual, they simply expressed their admiration for the genuine affection between the siblings and then changed the subject.

Tsubaki Sakurako, who hadn't participated in the conversation and had only seemed to be quietly playing on her phone, ended up writing down all of these words.

Because Kitagawa Ryo had protected his sister very well in the past and had never revealed to the public that most of the money he earned in his early years was invested in Hotaru's treatment, and because the Kitagawa Family intentionally guided and deleted some reports on this topic after the talent of that Heir of the Wealthy Family manifested, even after a year of investigation into Kitagawa Ryo, Tsubaki Sakurako herself only knew that he seemed to have a sister who was not related to him by blood, but was unaware of these things that happened between the two of them in their early years.

In Tsubaki Sakurako's view, this child named Hotaru should be on the same side as her, after all, their older sister/brother was also a victim of the White Room. The only difference was that the other party was a brother and sister of the opposite sex, while they were sisters of the same sex.

Moreover, judging from the words spoken by Karuizawa Kei, Ichinose Honami, and Sakura Airi, it seems that the younger sister was always in the position of being taken care of.

... After what happened in the White Room, could anyone really continue to play that role in front of their sister as if nothing happened?

"You seem quite concerned about Kitagawa-senpai's sister, huh? You've been listening intently ever since."

Just as Tsubaki Sakurako was lost in her own thoughts, Nanase Tsubasa, who had been pretending to be asleep the whole time, quietly opened her eyes a little bit and looked in her direction.

"... No."

"Why won't you admit it? Your phone hasn't moved for five minutes. Look, it's already turned off."

Feeling a little awkward at having her thoughts read, Tsubaki Sakurako put away her phone and spoke to this classmate, who, although in the same Drama Club, she didn't usually interact much:

"Aren't you listening here too?"

"Yes, because I'm also very interested in these things. After all, he's our leader, so he definitely hopes that Kitagawa-senpai is a truly great person, so we can help him with a clear conscience."

Nanase Tsubasa answered without hesitation.

"Isn't that what Tsubaki-san thinks too?"

"Yes, right?"

Since the other party had offered such a way out, Tsubaki Sakurako subconsciously accepted it, then unconsciously looked away, her mind still preoccupied with what she had just heard about Hotaru.

If Hotaru is unaware of all that happened in the past, then it's alright, after all, it's just a story of a brother and sister relying on each other for survival.

But what if the other person suddenly learns the truth that she never thought of before, yet that truly happened to her closest relatives?

Hmm... I have a feeling something really scary, really scary is going to happen.

Unaware that she had inadvertently stumbled upon a brilliant idea, Tsubaki Sakurako shook her head again. But then she thought it was impossible, given Kitagawa Ryo's personality and ideas.

No matter how you look at it, the other person would never willingly tell these things to their sister.

After all, even from the few words spoken by Karuizawa Kei and the others, it was clear that Kitagawa Ryo still hoped that Hotaru could grow up healthy and carefree, and that he would bear all the heavy burdens and responsibilities himself.

However, on the other hand, the stronger this idea is, the more exaggerated the backlash will be if it is actually exposed.

Hopefully nothing unexpected happens.

Well... after all, he's my sister's boyfriend.

IF Side Story: What if Hotaru was a wicked god?

Important note before reading: This chapter is an IF (what if) side story that the author had conceived a long time ago. It can be simply understood as Hotaru's dark turn, set in the current reality. It serves both to contrast with the upcoming main storyline where Hotaru and Hotaru confront each other, and also simply to satisfy a certain of my own fantasies.

"Then, Life Restart."

In the darkness, it was as if one could hear a crisp snap of fingers, or perhaps the sound of Matoba being closed during filming; the rules of the world were being rewritten once again.

All regrets and pain are left in simulation after simulation, so that the final reality that restarts becomes the most perfect world line where everyone can find happiness.

Hotaru neither agreed nor disagreed with her brother's idea.

Because it's something that can never be achieved.

Ichinose Honami, Karuizawa Kei, Horikita Suzune, Sakayanagi Arisu, and many other girls could have their original life trajectories rewritten because of this, but there was one person who could not.

That's her.

Ichinose Honami is still Ichinose Honami, and Karuizawa Kei is still Karuizawa Kei, but no matter how many times they come back, their original selves in the original world line have become eternally gods, and are no longer the same beings as 'Hotaru' who was healed after the world line was restarted due to the Life Restart.

Even as time went on, this feeling of alienation grew stronger.

She had initially held high hopes for 'Hotaru's' future.

As long as I'm happy, that's all that matters.

Even if the world doesn't approve, as long as we truly love each other, that's enough.

As long as I can be with you, I don't care what kind of life we live.

It is precisely because all of these are impossible fantasies that they went through such a long and complicated process to erase the blood relationship between the two.

But perhaps all of this is just self-deception and excuses.

After all, if we consider the ultimate goal of romantic love as familial affection, then the status of a younger sister is clearly higher than that of a lover or wife.

But upon reflection, one realizes that this same statement was also a self-deceiving argument one had long ago.

Ultimately, compared to those fleeting, casual relationships, what she always longed for was a stable, long-lasting, even almost eternal relationship.

From this perspective, it would be wonderful to create a world where there are only two people.

After all, that person did say that.

Saying things like, "I will always be with you," and "Don't leave me alone."

He had also fantasized and fabricated those unattainable dreams for himself, even though they were the opposite of what she imagined. Yet, they still made her unconsciously make the same choices at that time, projecting her own thoughts onto the other person.

The only difference is that the other person's simulations were merely verbal stories to coax children, while hers were genuine and achievable.

And so, Ying left his stage.

Director, screenwriter, audience.

He set up all the characters and then watched the story he was leading with immersion.

After one story ends, the next one begins without delay.

She sat in the best seat in the audience, enjoying reading the stories of her brother's encounters and romances with various girls.

At those times, it was as if she could empathize with those girls and fall in love with that person as well.

Of course, if possible, it would be nice if that girl's name was Ying (萤).

Yes, that's it.

So why is that?

Why did he feel no joy or relief what he had anticipated after seeing Hotaru, who had also had her predetermined Fate Salvation?

Hotaru and I are essentially the same person, we even have the same name.

But he did indeed Salvation the firefly as he had hoped.

But why couldn't it Salvation itself, the firefly?

He has already tried his best.

This is exactly what you wanted to see, isn't it?

This was the stage you built for him from the very beginning, wasn't it?

But he clearly said he would always be with me!

They clearly said they would stay together forever.

Therefore, she should be the most special and unique existence.

And...

Even if everyone else, including Ichinose Honami and Karuizawa Kei, were all actively guided into Ryo's life by her alone, the girl who shared the same name as her but wasn't her own shouldn't and couldn't fall in love with Ryo.

This is the bottom line of her tolerance.

Because her stubborn, almost extreme, feelings were an inseparable part of that period when she was tormented by physical pain; neither could be dispensed with.

So...

'Hotaru' should have abandoned her indifferent, childish feelings for Ryo, along with the pain of her cured illness; these feelings were so vague that even she herself probably couldn't clearly define them.

When I came to my senses again, I found myself standing right in front of the other person.

It must be said that the golden-talented Dreamweaver, who had been sealed away from the past, was indeed a great help, allowing her to perfectly use this as a medium to reproduce all the truths of the past in front of people in the present.

An absurd miracle...

Ying coldly scrutinized the girl in front of her, whose brows were furrowed and who seemed still dazed from the memories that had been forcibly shoved into her mind.

In the final days of her life, she prayed countless times for a miracle to happen.

I hope to have the good health that my brother has wished for countless times, so that I can continue to stay by his side forever.

But she never expected that the solution provided by the gods would be to create another being in this world with the same appearance, identity, and personality as her.

Even though she had tried countless times to convince herself that this was her, that this was her own self on another, saved world line, a being named Hotaru.

But no matter what, it's impossible.

Perhaps I was never a good kid.

Rather, hadn't she already encountered people like this in past simulations?

Even though her heart was already beyond repair, she still had to try her best to put on a different image in front of him, hiding all those ugly, negative emotions that she absolutely could not let him see in the well deep inside her heart.

From the very beginning, she was the one who most wanted to be the female lead.

Do you know why the first chapter of the simulation is set in summer?

She whispered in 'Firefly's' ear.

"Because that is my season, the season of fireflies."

"Alright, now give yourself back to me, give yourself back to me."

Good evening, brother--

"Firefly?"

Kitagawa Ryo looked at the kitten that had raised its front paw at him with some surprise, then looked down at himself:

"Am I not in my hotel room?"

"Because this is in a dream. Brother, don't you remember what you asked me to do before? It was how to let everyone watch those simulated experiences from the past again. I thought about it, and the Dreamweaver talent that you sealed before is very useful. It can recreate the scenes from the past through dreams."

"I see. Then, the snow..."

"But since I don't know how effective it will be, I'd like to find someone else to test it on."

Before Kitagawa Ryo could finish speaking, Hotaru interrupted him, then waved her claws in a certain direction, and someone who was completely unexpected by Kitagawa Ryo appeared in front of him.

"... firefly?"

"That's right, it's Ying."

The kitten hopped onto the firefly's shoulder in a few steps, and then patted her cheek, as if to cheer her up from her slump.

"Alright, let's begin the show."

A sound like a snap of fingers, or perhaps the clapperboard falling, came.

But the scene that appeared before Kitagawa Ryo was not a simulation of any of them.

Rather, it was the reality he had experienced.

It was his and Ying's childhood, the broken theatrical stage and family environment, the temple fairs they visited together, the hot cocoa he gave her as a birthday gift, their phone conversations in the detention center, and their gradual march towards the end.

Welcome back.

"No... Yingming just got home too, didn't she?"

"But if I don't say 'Welcome back,' won't no one respond to my brother's 'I'm back'?"

"Then we can both say 'I'm back' together."

"That won't do."

"If no one says 'Welcome back,' there's no point in saying 'I'm back,' it just makes you feel lonely."

"Brother, would you like to drink my cup? You look so cold."

"I have one too, and it's a birthday present for Hotaru."

"The purpose of stars shining is so that everyone can one day find their own star."