The night sky was quiet. Everything outside felt still, almost asleep. Only the faint sound of crickets could be heard beyond the window. The city lights below flickered softly, but none of them were as bright as the moon above.
The Super Moon hung high in the sky, large and glowing. It lit up the rooftops and streets in soft light, making the view outside look calm and beautiful.
It reminded me of that night.
"Just like back then," I said without thinking. "Another quiet night with the Super Moon."
I hadn't meant to say it out loud. The words slipped out before I realized it. But someone heard me anyway.
"Nii-san, what are you doing?"
Her voice came from behind me, curious and light.
I turned around and saw Kei standing there in her pajamas. They were light blue with little stars on them. Her hair was tied loosely, and her sleepy eyes still looked bright. She must have noticed the light from the window and come to see what I was doing.
"I'm just…" I smiled faintly, looking outside again. "Watching the moon."
"The moon, huh?" Kei stepped closer, her slippers barely making a sound. She stopped beside me and looked out the same window.
"It's really bright tonight," she said quietly.
"Yeah," I answered. "It's beautiful."
Kei turned to me with a grin. "That kind of line doesn't sound like you, Nii-san."
"Line?" I asked.
"You know, that cheesy kind of thing," she teased. "'Oh, it's beautiful.' You sound like one of those old romance shows."
"Hey, that's not true!" I said quickly, though my face felt a little warm.
Kei laughed. Her laugh was soft and clear, and somehow it made the quiet room feel warmer.
For a moment, I even forgot about the moon.
Then she leaned her shoulder against me and said, "Hey, Nii-san. Let's take a selfie and send it to Touka-san."
"What? All of a sudden?"
"It's better when it's sudden," she said with a playful smile. "That way it's more exciting."
I sighed, but I couldn't stop myself from smiling a little. Kei always acted on impulse, but that was just who she was.
"…Fine," I said finally.
Her face lit up. "Yay!"
She held up her phone, moving around to get a good angle so that both of us and the moon behind us could fit into the picture. Without thinking, I leaned closer. Our shoulders touched, and I could feel the warmth from her side.
"Okay, ready?"
"Wait, my hair—"
Tap.
Too late.
Kei giggled as she looked at the photo. "Perfect. Now for the final touch."
She started typing quickly. I leaned over a little to see what she was writing.
On the screen, I saw the message:
[Touka-san, tonight Nii-san is mine :#]
"Hey! Wait—" I reached out, but Kei held the phone high above her head and pressed send.
"Too slow," she said, laughing.
"You've got to be kidding me," I groaned, covering my face. "She's going to misunderstand that."
"That's the point," Kei said, still smiling proudly.
I wanted to get angry, but seeing her laughing so freely under the moonlight made it impossible.
"Kei," I said, sighing, "you really like teasing me, don't you?"
She tilted her head. "Maybe. But you make such funny faces when you're flustered."
"Unbelievable," I muttered, though I couldn't help smiling.
Then her expression changed. The playful look faded, replaced by something gentler. "Nii-san, don't ever run away from Touka-san, okay?"
I was surprised. Her voice was softer now, serious.
"What do you mean?" I asked quietly.
Kei nodded. "I may look carefree, but I notice things too."
She looked out the window again, at the moon. "You've been acting different lately."
I didn't know what to say. She was right.
"Do you ever think," I said slowly, "that some things are easier to love from far away?"
Kei didn't reply at once. She just looked at the moon, thinking. Then she said, "Maybe. But don't you think love means wanting to get close, even when it's hard?"
Her words hit deeper than I expected.
"You're surprisingly thoughtful tonight," I said with a small smile.
She chuckled. "It's probably the moonlight. It makes people honest."
We both went quiet after that. The room was filled only with the soft light from outside. Our shadows stretched across the floor, long and still.
The clouds moved slowly across the sky, sometimes hiding the moon, sometimes showing it again.
"Hey, Nii-san," Kei said after a while. "Do you think the moon ever feels lonely?"
"The moon?"
"Yeah," she said, still looking outside. "It shines all night, but no one can reach it. People just look up from far away."
I thought for a moment. "Maybe that's why it keeps shining. Even if no one can reach it, at least it can still be seen."
Kei smiled faintly. "That sounds like you."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
She laughed again, softly. Then she said, "Maybe Touka-san is your moon."
I didn't answer. Maybe because she was right.
...
Kei nudged me with her elbow. "You're thinking too much again."
"Am I that easy to read?"
"You always are," she said. "Even though we're cousin, I'm still your proud little sister, remember?"
That made me laugh a little. "Guess so."
She smiled proudly. "Of course."
"…Still," I said, looking at her phone again, "you didn't have to send that message to Touka."
"Why not? It'll make her jealous."
"That's not exactly a good thing."
"Then you can clear it up tomorrow."
"Explain what, exactly?"
"That you belong to her, obviously."
I turned away quickly. "Kei…"
She burst out laughing again. "You're too easy to tease! It's fun."
"Yeah, yeah," I said, shaking my head.
But I couldn't deny it. Somehow, she had made me feel better. That was just her way.
The moonlight changed again, making the room glow differently. I saw her reflection in the window, smiling, bright, full of life.
"Hey, Kei," I said.
"Hm?"
"Thanks."
She blinked. "For what?"
"For reminding me that some things are still worth reaching for."
Her smile softened. "Then don't stop trying, Nii-san."
We stood there until midnight passed, quietly watching the moon. It began to lower in the sky, its light slowly fading.
Somewhere, I wondered if Touka was looking at the same moon. Maybe she could feel the same quiet feeling I did.
Kei yawned beside me. "I'm sleepy."
"Then go to bed," I said gently.
She nodded, then walked toward her room. Before going in, she turned back. "Don't stay up too late, okay?"
"I won't."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
She smiled one last time before closing the door.
And then, I was alone again with the moon.
"Have you met her already, future me?" I whispered, repeating my earlier words.
There was no answer. Just the quiet of the night and the soft beating of my heart.
Still, I smiled.
And then, suddenly.
Ring Ring
It was my phone, I looked at the notification, and it was from her.
[You're belong to me, lol]
I laughed quietly while replying,
[Sure, I'm all yours.]
The night moved on. The Super Moon continued to shine quietly above, watching over everything below.