After making my way back to the apartment, I quickly dump the groceries onto the table before getting dressed out of my uniform. Sitting down on the couch, I pick up the phone once more in my hands.
"Reina."
It's no doubt my sister's phone. I still have no idea how long those men had it for, but at least I know that she was around here. Did they find Reina back when Nicole first spotted Reina at the train station? Wait, but then wouldn't the men at least change the wallpaper? I can't say what the reason might be, but I feel like I would've took off this bunny accessory and change the wallpaper at least if I was a robber. So then... Could this have happened recently?
Not wanting to think over things too much, I finally scrounge up the courage to go into her phone in detail; more specifically, her contacts. It didn't take long to find as this phone works pretty similar to my own, but upon opening up the contacts, I can only see two contacts; "Grandma and Grandpa."
I don't know them all too well, but my heart is beating far too heavily right now for me to think about that. It's like it's trying to break out of my ribs. If my sister is actually staying with them, then if I ring this number... Could I actually speak with Reina? My fingers move on it's own as I immediately press the call button before I actually do end up breaking a rib.
With every passing ringtone, my heart grows heavier and heavier. I know that something is happening over there according to Yume, but-
"Hello? Reina?"
My thoughts, along with my heart stop the moment the ringing stops as the sound of an old woman comes through the speakers.
"Gr-grandma?!"
I can't even tell if my heart is even beating at this point. Am not dying, right?
"Ah~ I'm glad you're okay. I was planning on ringing you on of these days."
Why would she need to call Reina if she- wait... Could it be that Reina isn't actually with her grandparents?
"Uhm, actually grandma, this is Luna."
"Huh?! Wait, Luna?!"
"Yes."
Her voice sounded soft and gentle before, but now her tone is far more louder and sharp, as if she can't believe the words I said.
"Luna? I-is this true?"
"Yes."
I feel like I shouldn't talk about my discovery just now with how I managed to get Reina's phone. I don't want her to worry.
"So you two found each other... Haah~ What a stroke of luck, haha. I'm glad."
"Uhm... Actually-"
I catch myself before talk about my discovery just now with how I managed to get Reina's phone. If I tell her that she's wrong then she'd surely ask questions. It could lead me to find out where Reina's whereabouts are, but I should take this carefully.
"-Nn. Reina and I are doing well."
"That's good to hear. Ah~ It's good to hear from you, Luna."
"Nn."
It's true. The last time I heard grandma would be when I was little. She sounds a bit different than back then, but her tone of voice is just as gentle as I remember.
"I've already dreaded not being able to take both you and Reina together."
"It's okay."
"No... It isn't. If both of us were- If I had done better, Reina wouldn't have had to..."
I hear her voice trail off at times along with her voice cracking. It's making me want to tear up, as if her sadness is infecting me.
"It's okay. You were ill at the time, right?"
"Yes, but that isn't a good excuse. If I knew things would turn out like this... I... I'm sorry, Luna."
Hearing her apologize almost pushes me to tears, but I manage to compose myself.
"But thank god... I'm glad I sent Reina with your mother's editor-"
Huh? Hearing about my mother causes my heart to skip, with my eyes snapping open.
"Where?"
"Huh?"
"Do you know where he lives?"
"I thought that you two were with him?"
"No. I actually just bumped into Reina out in public."
"Ah~ Well I'm not sure exactly where. He said he'd be moving somewhere soon and he said he'd let me know. You could ask Reina?"
"Well... She's in the bathroom at a café we're at."
I feel awful lying like this, but my heart is beating too rapidly to stop.
"Oh that's nice~ Well if I recall, he said that they'd be staying at..."
…..
...
After learning the address, I end the call there with grandma. She wanted to stay in call until Reina was back, but of course I couldn't follow along with that lie much longer and just came up with the excuse of the battery running low, which as it turns out actually was the case, reading only 5% battery left. Thankfully this phone uses the same kind of charger as my own phone so I quickly plug it into my own charger while I sort through my thoughts.
"So close..."
The address that grandma gave me was a street that I know about. I don't go down there too much as there's nothing really there from memory, but I know it's close... at least by car. I could walk there now, but it'd be dark by the time I arrive.
"...Khh-!"
Just as I gathered my resolve to just do it, I hear my doorbell ring, silencing my thoughts all together. But as I go to open the door, I'm met with two familiar faces.
"Yahoo~"
"Hey, sis."
Mei, with her welcoming smile along with my brother carrying some bags are standing in my way of running to my sister. Wait, but isn't this perfect?!
"Brother!"
"...Yes?"
He gives me a look as if questioning what this is all about, his eyes widen as I continue to look directly into his eyes.
"It's Reina... I know where she is."
"What?"
The other side-
"Mmm... Like this?"
"Ah~ You can put a bit more on. You're balance is good though."
It's the next day and Kanon is helping me with making desserts. After taking my measurements, her father actually began working on my uniform, the same one that Kanon wears along with the other workers. It came as shock though when I heard that her father is "actually" the person that is making it though.
"Mm! That's perfect."
With Kanon's declaration, I stop with the strawberry syrup on this parfait.
"Sorry it took a while."
"Hehe, it's alright. Your arm is still healing so don't try and push yourself."
"It's okay. It doesn't hurt that much."
Just like yesterday, Kanon replaced my bandage, putting on more antibiotic ointment. It's not as strong as taking proper antibiotics, but with how limited my supply is that I got from "that" man, I just hope I can manage. It's why I want to hurry and learn quickly so I can properly start working here.
"And- done!"
Kanon added a few sliced strawberry on top of the ice cream with a big smile on her face. The slices however seem to be random.
"Does it not matter where you place them?"
"I'm sure other places think it's important, but I just like throwing them in like this. It gives the customer a unique experience every time they order it again."
"I see."
Makes sense. They are just toppings after all. They're usually the first things to be eaten anyways.
"Right! Now why don't you take this to that customer?"
"Eh?"
"See? That one right there."
I follow her gaze to an old man sitting at one of the benches. One of the cats seem to have already cuddled up beside their leg, rubbing up all over him.
"I thought you said this was just a practice one?"
"I did, but it turned out pretty good. You got the Kanon's seal of approval!"
"But I still don't think-"
"You'll be fine~ Just remember to smile and apologize to him for the wait."
"Okay."
She cuts me off, but if she says its okay then I guess I better start getting used to this.
I make my way to the old man, carefully carrying over the parfait with me, making sure to keep the smile on my face. I feel a bit deceptive putting on a fake smile like this, but Kanon seemed to think my smile was perfect. I'm still not sure whether that's a good thing or not...
"Here you go sir. Sorry for the wait."
"Not a problem. Ah~ You did a fine job young lady."
"Thank you very much."
I bow to the man as he too shoots me a bright smile along with all of his wrinkles. His smile almost reminds me of my grandpa in a way, but I quickly turn around before my smile slips away.
"Phew..."
I let out a sigh of relief after coming back behind the counter with Kanon."
"Nervous?"
"Yeah."
"Hehe~ You did a great job for your first order."
"Well you did most of the work."
"You think? I think the syrup is the hardest part in my opinion. One screw up and the whole presentation is off. It's like writing on paper with ink. It's hard to undo your mistake."
It's hard to refute her when she puts it like that...
"Hehe. So be proud. For your first time, I'm impressed."
"Thanks."
"Did you used to do stuff like this before?"
"Not- really..."
It's then that I recall a distant memory of me and sis learning how to write beautifully like our mother. I picked up on it the fastest, but our mother praised us together. I still remember the time where I even helped sis with her writing a few times. Just thinking back on those times fills with me warmth.
"Hmmm? So that's your "real" smile, huh?"
"Eh?"
Before I knew it, I found myself smiling, quite heavily as well.
"What were you thinking about?"
"Just my sis."
"Oh? Does she look similar to you?"
"You could say that. We're identical twins actually."
"What?! Wait, then this is the first time I've met a twin before!"
"Pfft. Is it really all that exciting?"
"Of course! Especially if she's as beautiful as you."
Being called beautiful like this is honestly pretty embarrassing. My face might've healed now but I feel like I'm still bruised up in the inside. Not to mention-
"Even with how I look?"
"You kidding? It's not everyday you see someone with silky white hair like yours. And to think it's natural as well~"
"You sound a bit like your father."
"Pfft-ahaha. Well yeah, hehe. I guess I got some of those genes as well."
I think this might actually be the first time someone has ever complimented my hair before besides my family, everyone else just seemed grossed out by it or ignored it. But there were people like Yume who never gave it a second thought and just spoke to me like everyone else. Yeah...
"Haah~"
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
"I just think I messed up."
"How so? Do you not actually want to work here?"
"No, not that. I just had someone back home that cared about me, yet I never really appreciated her."
"A friend?"
"Yeah. From school."
"School... Oh, speaking of which, do you still not know what your plans for school are?"
"I'm not sure."
I know that my "guardian" is up to something, but I doubt it has anything to do with my schooling. Unless that place we visited the other was actually a school, but I doubt it. That placed look like a university if anything. The place was huge.
"Well as long as you work after school hours like this, you should be fine."
"Pfft."
"Ah- Did I say something funny?"
"Well, you made it seem like I look younger than you."
"Ah~ Hehehe. Well I guess. But people around here know me well, plus I'm actually an adult if you can believe it. But I don't want you to get in anymore trouble than you already are."
"Now it sounds like you're harbouring a fugitive."
"Hey~!"
"Pfft."
It's been a while since I could talk like this with someone. I guess after everything Kanon's done for me, helping me being able to live and even giving me this job, I've found myself opening up to her a bit. However, it's a double edged sword.
("H-hey~ Reina, that tickles~")
("Ehehe~")
Memories of my sis flash through my mind.
("Shh, they'll here us!")
("You're the one talking loud, sis.")
("H-hey. Stop, your hair tickles!")
("Ehehehe~")
Memories of my sis and I hiding in a closet as our family played hide and seek in the house. Despite being identical, my sis was a lot more ticklish than me which ended up being one of my favorite things to do growing up. Even now as I play with my hair at this counter I think about flicking the strands of my hair along sis' neck, just like in the closet.
"-Reina?"
"Eh? Uh, sorry."
"You spaced out for a second."
"Sorry."
"Ah- A customer. Why don't you take a break? I'll handle this one."
"Thank you..."
With that, I move inside the break room as I sit down on the chair.
Why is it that whenever something good happens I feel this sting in my chest along with those memories? It's not like I want to forget, far from it... But having to relive those memories, knowing that I don't even know where my sister is...
"It hurts..."
I end up curling my legs up onto the chair, pulling my knees to my chest for comfort as I think back during those times again.
("Ara~ Look at you, Reina. You're writing is as good as mine!")
("Really?!")
("Mhmm!")
Stop it...
("Haha. I see you're taking after your mother. I wonder if Ren will take after me then? Hmm?")
Stop...
("Ahh! Ehe. Reina~")
("Take that!")
Memories of my mother teaching my sis and I, memories of sis and I water fighting in the bath. I...
"I can't..."
Despite my words, tears begin to stream down my face whether I like it or not. I thought I let everything out last time with Kanon's father, but that doesn't seem to be the case...
("I love you sis!")
("Hehe. I love you too.")
"Sis..."
I mutter for sis in between my cries as I let my tears continue, desperately holding onto my knees as if they were sis...
"Hahh~ There's not much customers but- wait, Reina?!"
Kanon returns into the break room but I refuse to move my head from my knees as she rushes over to my side.
"Hey hey. What's wrong?"
I feel her put her arm around my shoulder, trying to comfort me, but that only makes my tears continue to pour out, making it difficult to even say anything.
"Hey... It's okay."
I feel her gently massaging my shoulder, but again it just adds more pain to my heart, almost as if with every movement of hers is suffocating my heart, almost like it's in a vice. That said, I can't bring myself to push her away...
"...If it's about your caregiver, then would you like to stay with us?"
"E-eh?"
However, the moment I hear such a proposition, I lift my head up ever so slightly, enough for me to look her in the eyes.
"Truthfully, I felt bad letting you go back yesterday. I was worried you'd come back here with more bruises."
"..."
"We don't have much, but we have a guest room at our place you could use?"
"...But I don't-"
"Hehe. You worried about burdening us?"
"..."
"You're quite strong, you know that? Even wanting to work at your age. That's something I've never done until I finished high school. Stack that on top of what you're going through at home... If you want to support our business, then what's the harm in us wanting to support you as well?"
I'm at a loss for words as she skilfully debunks my arguments that I hadn't even manage to say yet.
"I won't force you to of course, but give it some thought, okay?"
"...Okay."
"Hehe, good."
She stands back up, gently patting me on the shoulder.
"I'm going to make some tea. Want some?"
"Yes please..."