Chapter 44 — The Sisters' World
Part 3: Things That Are Never Said Aloud
Evening settled fully over the campus.
The lights along the main walkways flickered on one by one, bathing the stone paths in a soft amber glow. The air cooled, carrying the faint scent of grass and distant food stalls outside the university gates. Students moved more slowly now, conversations quieter, laughter softer. The sharp competitiveness of the day eased into something more human.
Komi, Arisa, and Mizuki walked together as they always did.
Not close enough to look clingy.
Not far enough to look distant.
Balanced.
That balance had taken years to perfect.
Around them, the campus still watched.
A group of girls leaned against a railing near the fountain.
"There they are again."
"They always leave together."
"Do you think they talk about him a lot?"
"I think they don't talk about him at all. That's scarier."
The sisters didn't react. They never did.
Mizuki focused on the sound of her shoes against the stone path. Komi kept her eyes forward. Arisa's hands were in her pockets, shoulders loose but alert.
This was routine.
Attention like this had long stopped feeling special.
---
The Unspoken Social Rule
At a vending machine near the humanities building, a small crowd had formed. A few students paused mid-conversation when they noticed the sisters approaching.
Someone whispered, not trying very hard to hide it,
"If I had a brother like that, I'd never shut up about it."
Another replied casually,
"That's why you wouldn't survive."
A few quiet laughs followed.
Mizuki slowed just a little, not enough to be obvious.
She understood what they meant.
In this world, boys weren't just rare.
They were unstable currency.
Talking too much invited attention.
Showing pride invited competition.
Complaining invited scrutiny.
So the sisters did none of it.
They acted normal.
Which, ironically, made them stand out even more.
---
Casual Jealousy, Casual Dreams
Near the student café, two girls sat at an outdoor table, drinks untouched.
"I swear, if I had a younger brother like that, I'd treat him like a prince."
"Same. I'd never let him lift a finger."
"I'd probably be annoying about it."
They laughed.
Then one of them sighed.
"But imagine how exhausting it must be. Always worrying."
The laughter faded.
That part, at least, was understood.
---
Mizuki's Quiet Observations
Mizuki lagged behind slightly as they walked, eyes drifting to the illuminated windows of the dorm buildings. She liked watching silhouettes move behind curtains. It reminded her that everyone had their own private worlds.
She thought about the girls who asked her questions earlier.
They never asked what it was like to be afraid.
They never asked what it was like to constantly calculate risk.
They only asked about warmth.
About kindness.
About having someone gentle in their life.
She didn't blame them.
If she hadn't grown up with Haru, she might have wanted the same thing.
A boy who listened.
A boy who noticed small things.
A boy who never raised his voice.
In this world, that felt unreal.
Mizuki pressed her lips together slightly.
Sometimes, she wondered if Haru even realized how abnormal his kindness was.
---
Arisa and the Invisible Line
Arisa stopped suddenly.
Komi and Mizuki halted instinctively.
A group of students stood ahead — older, confident, clearly used to attention. One of them glanced over, eyes lingering too long.
Arisa felt it immediately.
That line.
The invisible boundary between curiosity and entitlement.
She stepped forward half a pace, not aggressive, not defensive. Just present.
The girl noticed.
Their eyes met.
The girl looked away first.
Arisa exhaled slowly.
She hated moments like this. Not because they were dangerous, but because they were constant. A quiet reminder that someone, somewhere, was always measuring them.
Not as individuals.
But as access points.
She resumed walking, jaw tight.
---
Komi's Internal Math
Komi noticed everything.
Who watched too long.
Who asked the same questions twice.
Who lingered near them without reason.
She didn't confront. She catalogued.
Her mind worked like a chessboard, mapping possibilities she hoped would never happen.
If someone tried to befriend them too aggressively.
If someone tried to invite them somewhere private.
If someone tried to use favors, connections, influence.
She already knew the answers.
Polite refusal.
Distance.
No escalation.
Control the situation without creating noise.
Noise attracted the wrong people.
---
Library Annex — One Last Stop
Before leaving campus, Mizuki ducked into the small library annex to return a book. The space was almost empty now, the librarian yawning behind the desk.
As Mizuki slid the book across the counter, a girl nearby hesitated.
"…Excuse me."
Mizuki turned.
The girl looked nervous, fingers twisting together. "This might sound weird, but… your brother. I saw an interview once."
Mizuki waited.
"He thanked the staff by name," the girl continued. "I don't think people noticed, but I did."
Mizuki smiled faintly. "That sounds like him."
The girl relaxed a little. "I just thought… if I ever had a brother, I'd want him to be like that."
Mizuki nodded once. "Then I hope you do."
The girl laughed softly, thanked her, and left.
Mizuki stood still for a moment after that.
These were the moments that stayed with her.
Not jealousy.
Not envy.
But longing.
---
Leaving Campus
The sisters finally exited through the main gate, security scanning them with routine familiarity. Outside, the city lights stretched endlessly, traffic humming in the distance.
Komi adjusted the strap of her bag. "Tomorrow will be louder."
Arisa snorted quietly. "It always is."
Mizuki looked up at the sky, where the first stars were barely visible. "Do you think it'll ever stop?"
Komi answered honestly. "No."
Arisa added, "But we're used to it."
That was the truth.
This wasn't a burden that had suddenly appeared.
It had grown with them.
Slowly. Quietly.
Until it became part of their normal.
---
What the World Never Sees
Back on campus, conversations continued long after the sisters left.
Some girls admired them.
Some resented them.
Some dreamed quietly.
But none of them saw the full picture.
They didn't see the restraint.
The planning.
The constant awareness.
They only saw three successful women with a rare, precious little brother.
And they assumed luck.
They never considered responsibility.
---
Closing Note
The sisters didn't talk about Haru that night.
They didn't need to.
Their lives already revolved around an unspoken axis — one that shaped their days, their choices, and the way the world looked at them.
And tomorrow, like today, they would walk through attention as if it were nothing.
Because for them…
It was just another regular day.
—To be continued...