The summer days with cicadas chirping one after another don't seem to be as hot as the weather forecast says. But it seems that from today, the temperature will gradually rise. — This is the sound coming from the radio in the corner of the dining table. I couldn't find a program that piqued my interest, and I was troublesome to turn off the radio, so I left it on.

Two years ago, just a month after graduating from university, I finally found a place to live in a not remote place with my almost continuous salary. Although it is deserted, it is not usually frequented by many people. But for me, it's enough.

Thinking so, Chihiro inadvertently tilted her head to look at the clock hanging on the wall.

There was a freshly heated hamburger on the table, and it took me some time to move it to the table with the help of a wheelchair. After taking some time to get rid of it, the phone in my pocket rang. "Who?" Dragging a somewhat unspeakable voice, he asked.

"What? Have you forgotten your sister's voice in just half a month? ”

I was relieved to hear the teasing mixed with some surprise. "Are you alright? Brother, if you can't survive alone, tell me. You know? Before I knew it, the conversation was going back to where it was.

"Dad said that, but don't take his words to heart......"

"Can you not mention that guy?"

I couldn't hold back for a while, but finally expressed my dissatisfaction. And this is a bit desperate, and it seems that the sister on the other end of the phone doesn't know how to pick up. Although I regretted it instantly. But maybe it's a strange self-esteem, right? Until the moment he hung up the phone, he did not apologize for his impulsiveness.

"You're going to have an interview in the afternoon, right? Come on? Then, if it goes well, just give me a call and let me know, right? ”

Before, I saw a nice restaurant, and if I passed the interview, even if it was just the two of us, would we celebrate together? — Finally, that's what she said. "Thanks, I see." In the end, I said yes.

However, in the end, he failed the interview. So, I lost the only reason I could call my sister. Chihiro, who sighed, turned around and prepared to go back to the room. — It is still somewhat difficult for a person to adjust and maneuver a wheelchair. So, it takes some time. However, it won't be long.

At this time, the phone rang again, "Brother, how is it?" What about the interview? My sister seemed to be more anxious than me, "I'm sorry......" I thought about it for a long time, and finally decided to tell the truth, "I'm sorry, it's rare for you to make such a good suggestion." ”

"It's okay, cheer up!"

She was stunned for a moment before saying this. Probably trying to comfort me, right? However, at this moment, I can't laugh like she said. After all, I can't count how many times. Next time I really don't know if I'll be able to make it through.

I carefully selected a suit for this interview, and even if I was alone, I spent a long time researching what to wear. and practice smiling, but in the end, it's still so embarrassing that even I can't bear it, but I still have to tell myself over and over again that I will succeed next time?

Where did this come from? Or is it just a fool who is wishful thinking and indulges in dreams that are completely opposite to reality? "Brother, are you alright?" Maybe I forgot to hang up the phone, right? Chihiro was startled by the sudden sound in her ears.

"Say, it's better if I don't exist?"

This time, his voice was full of desperation. In addition, the increasingly gray eyes are filled with feelings similar to despair and regret, "What are you talking about?" Brother! Doesn't exist or something, please don't say anything like that even if it's a joke! ”

As soon as the words fell, my sister's voice seemed to be a little choked.

"Why did you cry first?" Chihiro leaned her back lightly against the edge of the bed and asked casually. "It's not because you say that kind of thing!" I sighed, smiled wryly, and quickly apologized. However, similar issues have been seriously considered.

"Tomorrow, are you going to continue?"

"Of course, you can't reach out to you for money, can you?"

I said that, and then I tried to squeeze out a laugh to get by. "Even if you do, I won't say no." Although my sister rushed ahead of me to make up for the answer I could think of, I still refused. "No, I'll figure it out myself."

Why? Why didn't you readily agree at that time? In that way, long-standing troubles can be swept away. And you don't have to continue to bear the strange eyes of others, right?

— I was still thinking about it until midnight.

Rejected for the same reason or something every time, I've had enough! "I'm afraid that your physical condition is not suitable for the current position. So I'm so sorry! "After every interview, I will receive a text message shortly after, "I wish you a long journey in the future," and it also happened to be at the checkout at a convenience store tonight.

It's only about 10 minutes away from home, so I usually buy some groceries here. Because of my frequent visits, many of the staff are familiar with me. And to my relief, they didn't look at me the same way most people did.

"Looking for 50 yuan for you—"

Today, as usual, I reached out and took the change from the clerk and put it in my pocket. Then return the way you came. At this time, the street lights on both sides of the road slowly lit up, and the large screen in the square in the distance showed that the time was already around 8 o'clock in the evening.

But at the moment of crossing the bridge, I inadvertently saw a girl with a crossbody bag and a uniform standing by the guardrail—maybe she was more conspicuous when the crowd was less at this time, right? Bright short hair, headphones that completely cover the ears. And, little stud earrings.

"Why didn't she come home so late?" The moment I noticed her, such a question gently flashed through my mind. However, Chihiro didn't think much about it, but just wanted to get home as soon as possible and turn on the air conditioner as soon as possible, so as to quickly drive away the cold in her body.

Then, get some rest. It's just that when the moment passed by, the girl's eyes looked very lonely, as if she wanted to leave this world immediately. "Why?" Then the question arises.

But even if I'm curious, I'm not going to be nosy—if I rush up and talk to me, I'll probably be mistaken for a strange uncle. After convincing herself with such a reason, Chihiro gradually left her behind.

When I returned to the apartment and took out the key, I was surprised to find that the door seemed to be open—"Did I forget to lock the door?" The moment I entered my room and put down the key, I found that the bed, which should have been empty, was being occupied at this moment.

And she's a girl. She didn't even take off her socks.

"Hey—"

Laughing and crying, I slowly controlled the wheelchair to the bed and gently shook my sister's shoulder with my hand. "Why are you here?" It took about five minutes for her to open her eyes dimly, "I'm here to run errands, and I'm going to see you by the way." She said in a slightly confused voice.

By the way, I sat up.

"I recently applied for a transfer and will probably come over more often in the future." Immediately afterwards, my sister put on the light gray coat that she had thrown at the head of the bed, and emphasized this to me in a very normal tone. "So, dishes and chopsticks, as well as toothpaste and toothbrushes, I have brought them in advance."

"Go back......"

Hearing this, Chihiro said with a disgusted expression.

"In the middle of the night, you're going to drive me away? And even if I say yes. It's time not even for the last train? She said, pointing to the wall clock on the wall. With a wicked smile on his face, "What's more, I've had such plans since I called you last week." So, you'd better give up, right? How about let's get along? ”

Then, with a show-off expression, he added triumphantly.

"Why?"

"So didn't I say it on the phone? That's why I'm worried about you. In the face of my questioning, my sister repeated the reason she had said once that day. Then, she leaned gently on my shoulder. "That way, the burden on your body will be lighter, right?"

After that, despite some reluctance, Chihiro nodded. "So, you don't have to pretend to be so mature in front of me—" In the following month, the originally empty house did feel more homely.

Of course, I was still going through interviews with one company after another, and then I was rejected again and again. The reason hasn't changed much from before, but because my sister has taken over most of the housework, it's not so tiring.

And because I've loved anime, manga, and games since I was a child, I started to post sporadically in my spare time. — It's a whim, right? I thought it would be nice to pass the time when I was bored.

During the day, I continued to interview - cover, logo design, website operation, game producer, script writing, ...... I don't let go of almost any company that is in my area of interest, but that doesn't mean I'll get an equivalent return.

If I had a completely healthy body, would things have turned out differently? But in fact, even such assumptions do not help. —I didn't think about it when my sister pushed me over the bridge again.

I obviously said that I wanted to distract myself, but it didn't take long for my mind to be occupied by such thoughts again.

At this time, I saw the girl again, and she was dressed exactly the same as the night I first saw her half a month ago. It's just that I didn't carry a crossbody bag. — I thought so. And she didn't notice me, maybe she was listening to the music, right......?