The sun had already set when Himari arrived home. Not to her surprise, she found the house empty, as most of the time, her family would go out to eat and forget about her because her parents were too busy with her older sister.
Their perfect daughter. The one they promoted around while she stayed home like a shadow of her older sister. Forgotten and alone.
She sighed and dropped her school bag onto the couch. Hearing her stomach rumble, she sighed and walked to the kitchen and grabbed a packet of instant noodles, too lazy to make proper food.
She rubbed her eyes, trying to stay awake as she did her homework then squinted her eyes and then exhaled. Maybe a little sleep wouldn't harm her, she thought as she got up and walked to her bed before setting an alarm.
She peaked through her duvet and groaned. She had slept through her alarm which caused her to sit up and then yawned from all the tiredness she had still felt from her nap.
Once she got ready for school, she headed downstairs and found her parents and sister having a family time as they laughed at their jokes and smiled at each other. Sometimes, Himari wondered if she was adopted at times like these.
"Here, take this." Their mother said while giving her sister money," You can use it on you and your friends." Masumi smiled at her then nodded her head.
"Good morning." Himari greeted her parents"I heard you had detection yesterday." Her mother said as she ignored her greeting," Next time the school calls me about you, you're going to boarding."
"Yes, Okāsan," Himari said, voice low, knowing she couldn't reason with her mother.
"Can't you be at least like Masumi?" Her mother asked," She has never brought shame to the family and pretty soon, will probably bring honour." She continued as her voice slightly raised up.
Himari looked away from her mother and her eyes darted to her father, who was reading the newspaper. "Morning ,Otōsan...can I have money, for lunch?" She asked her father, who looked up from the newspaper and sighed," Did I not give you money yesterday. Stop being ungrateful."
Himari blinked her eyes and then nodded her head. Watching her father go back to reading the newspaper.
She walked to the kitchen island and saw that there was one apple left but before she could even think about grabbing it, Masumi had already taken it."First-come, first-served," Masumi said, then bit into the apple—smirking as she looked at Himari.
Himari sighed, then let her shoulders drop as she watched Masumi take another bite before placing it onto the kitchen island—left to rot.
Himari watched the students talk amongst each other while she stood by the classroom window. Today was the day. It was Valentine's day.
Don't be nervous.
I'm sure Asahi feels the same, too.
She inhaled and exhaled.
Come on, Himari, it's now or never.
She bit her lips as she hyped herself up before walking away from the window to her destination.
"I like you! Can you please go out with me?" She asked as she closed her eyes.
The two stood in front of the school's Sakura tree. Legend says that if two people were standing by the tree and one confesses, the couple would always be happy and stay together forever.
So Himari believed in that and decided to confess under the pink tree."I'm sorry, but it's your sister I want." She heard him say which shuttered her whole composure, her leg slightly loosing balance as her lips parted.
She froze and blinked. "But-but..." She looked down and bit her lips, eyes tearing as she looked up at him.
"It's always been your sister, Himari." He said "I can't be with you, I don't see you in that way. Masumi and I are together." He informed her, before walking away and had not stopped to look back at her.
Himari stepped back, and her back hit the tree. She let her body slide down before burying her face in her hands.
Why? What did I do to deserve this? It's always her. Everything is about her.
She removed her face from her hand and laid her head onto the tree as she stared up at the sky.
Am I destined to be her shadow?
Himari thought as her eyes teared up. She looked down then rubbed her eyes before staring longingly at the direction Asahi had left.