Chapter 29: Younger Sister

Shigure Ren, now revealed as Shigure Minato, is a big liar.

Having finally arrived at this fact, I still couldn't fully accept the reality.

「Why... why do you know that...」

Shigure smiled as if resigned, perhaps to hide the color of despair. Her gaze, powerlessly fixed on the ground, was so devoid of life that it seemed it might sink deeply into the earth just like that.

I think that was the result of her struggles living as Shigure Ren all this time seeping through.

「...When did it start?」

「...Right after Onee-chan died. Onee-chan was different from me, she had excellent grades, there was nothing she couldn't do, she was a perfect person.」

The tone of Shigure's voice as she began to speak was somehow childlike, and I finally felt like I was seeing her true heart.

「There's no such thing as a perfect person in this world. People are human because they're missing something. ...When people see someone who has what they lack, they become terribly jealous and target them. Onee-chan was everyone's target.」

「...Was that the cause?」

Shigure nodded quietly.

「Onee-chan thought she could solve it alone. So she kept it all to herself. And I think the solution she arrived at was waiting on top of that bridge.」

The sad reality spun from Shigure's mouth soaked into my heart.

I can understand because I've experienced bullying too. Even someone like me who doesn't care much about others gets depressed. Bearing it alone is practically impossible.

In my case, I managed somehow thanks to help from people around me. But Ren shouldered it all alone. Her mental anguish must be immeasurable.

「After Onee-chan died, Mama was so shocked she had to be hospitalized. ...What Mama wanted wasn't me, but Onee-chan. There was no point in me being the one who survived. So I decided to kill myself.」

「And this is the result...」

「...I think it wasn't a bad choice. Fortunately, since we were twins, our faces were similar, and Mama didn't notice. The people at school didn't notice either. ...Even though they bullied her so much, they didn't notice.」

Shigure's profile, more sad than resentful, looked like it might shatter at any moment.

In the homey environment of school, even small discrepancies can be fatal. The friction that creates is bullying.

Besides the ringleaders, the others around join in the attacks despite having no real interest. And when something happens, they pretend not to know. It's too convenient.

「I've lived as Shigure Ren. If a lie isn't exposed, it becomes true. ...Even you, it seems, couldn't see through me.」

「Yeah. It's frustrating. ...But it seems you couldn't fool your mother.」

Shigure's expression froze. Then she glared at me with trembling eyes that looked like they might collapse at any moment.

「Kyouka-san asked me to save you.」

「That can't be... I...」

Shigure crouched down on the spot.

「...I wanted to become someone who was needed.」

For her, there is one reason to play Shigure Ren. For her mother's sake. To protect the one and only person left in this world.

No matter how painful it was, no matter what obstacles awaited her, she had continued to play Shigure Ren. To protect Kyouka, her mother. And to become the self that was needed.

「...Kyouka-san regretted making you push yourself. That she had been focusing only on Ren all this time and made you feel lonely. That she had killed the existence called Minato for her own sake. ...You're needed just as you are. There are people who want Shigure Minato.」

「...Stop it.」

At the unexpected rejection, my thoughts freeze. Seeing Shigure's expression as she raised her face, I realized my mistake.

Even after her ideal goal crumbles, she who won't give up is troublesomely courageous.

She has a difficult personality.

「Stop it! I'm Shigure Ren! I've lived this way all along! I'm not someone who should be denied by an outsider like you!」

「Wait, Shigure!」

I grab the hand of Shigure as she tries to run away. But my hand was mercilessly shaken off.

「I don't want to go back to my original self! I'm me! I'll live as Ren! ...It's none of your business anymore!」

「Like hell it's none of my business...! We've come this far together!」

「...My relationship with you is over now! Don't get involved with me anymore...」

Shigure throws those final words at me and leaves. I couldn't chase after her and only stared at her departing back.

Shigure's retreating figure looked smaller than usual.