“Hey now.”
However, before she could, Koutarou held her body.
You're still light, despite having grown so much, Kii-chan...
Having been able to support the girl that had supported him made Koutarou happy. As Koutarou was pleased with himself, Kiriha put her arms around Koutarou and held him.
“...It's Onii-chan... you really were Onii-chan...”
Kiriha completely entrusted herself to Koutarou like a small child wanting to be doted on by her parents. So Koutarou readjusted his hold on her body to properly support her.
“...Back then you were more of a tomboy, and less like this.”
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Koutarou supported Kiriha while smiling wryly. Right now, she looked even younger than Kii had.
To think she really was Kii-chan though...
Kii who had been hiding inside of Kiriha had now come out into the open. Up until now, Kii had peeked through a few times before, and Koutarou knew what Kii was like, so he didn't find it to be unnatural. Of course he had been surprised at first, and he still was, but his feelings were content. Because of that, Kiriha and Kii naturally began melding into a single person.
“Stupid... even if it's only been half a month for you, it's been over ten years for me, Onii-chan. Can't you just let me stay like this a little longer...”
Kiriha's arms were firmly swung around Koutarou. She poured enough feelings into her arms to make up for the ten years that she hadn't seen him. And those feelings also served as her new oath.
She would protect Koutarou from solitude, and always warm up his heart.
Just like Koutarou had supported Kiriha and Kii, they would support him. As her best friend and first love became the same person, their two desires became one. Those desires melded into one and became into an even stronger oath.
“I'm sorry. I'll listen to whatever you say today, so please forgive me.”
“Anything?”
Kiriha looked up and smiled at Koutarou as she tilted her head.
“Yeah.”
“I might say something amazing.”
“You won't. That's not the kind of girl you are.”
“...Fufu.”
Kiriha seemed extremely happy as she laughed and entrusted herself to Koutarou once more. She then quietly whispered into his ear.
“Onii-chan, you still haven't answered my previous question. So I want you to properly answer it.”
Was Koutarou happy or not.
Kiriha already knew the answer to that question. That's because when she had met him ten years ago, he had said that he was on his way home. And having a home to return to was a sign of happiness.
But Kiriha wanted to hear Koutarou say it himself. Had she been able to protect him during the ten months they had been together, and had Kii been able to warm his heart the two weeks since they had met? Had Kiriha and Kii been able to support him? She wanted Koutarou to answer her with his own words.
“Now that you mention it, I didn't, did I?”
Koutarou smiled wryly and gathered his thoughts as he looked up into the sky. What meaning had these ten months since he had met Kiriha and these two weeks since he had returned home meant to him? It was a question far too difficult for Koutarou to answer.