Tokyo: My Girlfriend

Although the transfer document said I could report for duty before Monday, the thought of going to the place where Shinichi Kitagawa lived made me very anxious.

Haruhi Hina still couldn't help but wonder if she might have run into Shinichi, who was taking a walk alone, if she had gone a few days earlier.

How wonderful it would be if we met, even if we weren't inseparable like a couple, just a simple glance, surprise, and smile.

This also made Haruhi Hina very happy.

Of course, if it were possible... if he really were alone, the two of them probably wouldn't have acted so unfamiliar with each other.

Perhaps they would secretly hide in a secluded place, express their longing, and share a simple hug or kiss, proving that the month-long separation had not created any distance in their relationship.

So she actually arrived in Kabasaki Town a few days early, clinging to this unrealistic fantasy. She arrived on Thursday and started renting a house near the school and buying things, but obviously she didn't run into the person she was looking forward to.

Until yesterday, when Haruhi Hina was packing her things, she realized that she had been so stupid as to forget to bring her laptop. If it weren't for the fact that the novel website automatically uploads her drafts, she would have stopped updating next week.

She called her family to mail her laptop so she could pick it up at the courier service the next day.

Who knew that I would see that scene in the distance on my way to pick up the package today?

On the vibrant grass, a young boy and girl were alone, lying on the grass chatting and laughing, seemingly very close together.

Because Haruhi Hina was quite far away from them, she couldn't actually see their faces. However, even though Hina hadn't seen Kitagawa Shinichi many times, the intimacy of that night during their two dates had already deeply etched his image into her heart.

"Is that... Shinichi?"

Haruhi Hina was still unsure. If it was Shinichi, who was the girl with him? And was Rena nearby?

Haruhi Hinana didn't dare go over to confirm.

Especially while he was pondering, the boy in the distance suddenly seemed to sense something and unconsciously looked in this direction.

Haruhi Hina instinctively hid behind a tree by the roadside, pursed her red lips, and hurriedly left.

Actually... even if it was Shinichi, it wouldn't be a problem, right? It's normal for boys to meet girls, isn't it?

They weren't actually sticking together or hugging; they were just chatting.

Besides, whether that person actually believes it or not is another matter.

She thought this to herself, but a sour feeling filled her chest, and she gripped her handbag even tighter.

She felt like crying. She really missed Shinichi Kitagawa. This forced breakup made it impossible for her to forget him. It only made the longing pile up in her heart, making her feel more and more uncomfortable.

There was wind again on the grass.

"Huh? No way? This is so surprising! Shinichi-kun, are you saying Rena isn't your biological sister?! What's going on?!"

Just as Shinichi Kitagawa was about to say something, he felt as if someone was watching him. He turned his head to look into the distance, but found no one there.

But even Shinichi Kitagawa wondered if he was overthinking it; he actually felt that Hina had been there.

That's impossible. Hina isn't that childish; she wouldn't do anything on her own based on emotions. So, he actually had this kind of hallucination because he missed Hina? That's a bit exaggerated.

"What's wrong, Shin-ichi? What are you looking at? Why aren't you saying anything?"

Kitagawa Shinichi turned around: "Nothing, where were we?"

"Speaking of Rena not being your biological sister!" Aoki Akemi exclaimed excitedly, "Tell me the details!"

Shinichi Kitagawa grinned: "Yeah, but even if I tell you, I still hope you can keep it a secret for me."

Akemi Aoki nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

She raised her finger and swore solemnly, "If anyone tells, may I be hit by a car and run over fifteen times!"

Who would have thought she'd make such a swearing vow: "There's no need to be so exaggerated..."

So Shinichi Kitagawa roughly recounted the story of how the two met, skipping over many details:

"Rena lived with her mother since she was a child. After her mother died in a car accident, she lived with my family. Although I call her my younger sister, we are actually just childhood friends. We just look alike."

Akemi Aoki covered her mouth: "You really are childhood friends... I knew it was weird how you two got along... How could siblings act like that... And Rena's background is so tragic."

Kitagawa Shinichi frowned, his face turning pale: "Are we really that obviously a couple?"

Aoki Akemi nodded:

"Normally, siblings either verbally abuse each other or are unwilling to yield to each other. But Shinichi and Rena's way of getting along is completely respectful and courteous, giving viewers a subtle feeling that they both want to get closer, yet are both avoiding something..."

Kitagawa Shinichi smiled, thinking that it might really be true:

"Maybe you're right. We're not related by blood, so even if we wanted to become real siblings, we couldn't. But even though Rena says she hates me, she's actually very attached to me."

"More than that... I've always felt that Shinichi is Rena's pillar of support, and I knew that from the moment she came to supervise me when we were practicing singing." Aoki Akemi raised her hand, mimicking Rena's cold expression:

"You vixen! Although I know you have no chance of taking my brother away, I'll still be watching you closely! Don't even think about having any designs on my brother!" Aoki Akemi smiled, "I guess Reina always looks at me with the same expression and thinks the same way."

Shinichi Kitagawa, embarrassed, asked, "...Is that so?"

"Absolutely right, I understand that look all too well. So what's troubling Shinichi this time? Did you two have a fight?"

Shinichi Kitagawa looked up at the azure sky and said, "No, I just want her to have her own life, to know what she wants, and not to put everything on me. Of course, this doesn't mean I'm abandoning her; I just want her to live more freely."

"Huh? That's a bit difficult, but that makes sense. A girl who puts all her hopes on someone else is destined to be miserable. You can like someone and admire someone, but you can never put your hopes on someone else. People like that will never find happiness."

Shinichi Kitagawa remarked, "I didn't expect you to understand what I was talking about so quickly. It seems Akemi and I do have a lot in common."

Akemi Aoki giggled, cupping her face in her hands. "What's wrong? Is Shinichi starting to like me? Even if Shinichi only has one percent of that liking for me, I'm still very happy."

She sat up, clenched her fists, and said in a serious tone:

"Alright! Since Shinichi-kun has helped me so much this time and told me something so important, I will definitely find a way to help Rena find her own life and dreams! But before I do any of that... there's something very important I want to ask..."

Kitagawa Shinichi was confused: "What?"

Akemi Aoki stared intently into Kitagawa's eyes with her fox-like eyes:

"Actually, I already guessed the answer. It's because Rena knows that Kitagawa-kun has someone else in his heart, right? And she obviously doesn't like that woman and doesn't want you to get back together with your ex-girlfriend, right? That's why things have been so awkward between you two lately."

Shinichi Kitagawa was moved and smiled, "You guessed right. We even had a falling out over this."

Aoki Akemi did not smile upon hearing the answer, because a very serious matter then arose.

If the younger sister is this wary of her brother's feelings, is Rena's affection for Shinichi simply brother complex? Or... is it love?

Perhaps the answer is obvious, and that makes sense.