Page 35 of The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop
As Kaho said so, she tentatively held outPeter Pan and Wendy. Glancing down at the book, Shiho touched her glasses with her fingertip.
‘No, thanks. You keep it. It’ll look out of place in a medical student’s room.’
Kaho was tempted to argue back, but thought better of it.
‘Fine. Can I put it in your room after you’ve moved out, then?’
‘I suppose so?—’
Shiho told her that she could put it on the bookshelf on her desk after she’d left. Kaho nodded and said that she would.
‘So, is that all? Or was there something else you wanted to say?’ her sister said as she lowered herself back into her desk chair.
Shiho’s tone suggested that she was happy for Kaho to leave her room now, and so Kaho defiantly plonked herself down on the floor. She placed the book beside her. Since her sister had asked, Kaho began to speak the words that popped into her head, but now, she started to wonder if this was, in fact, why she had knocked on her door in the first place.
‘After you leave, we may never sleep under the same roof again?—’
‘Actually, I plan on coming home for all the big holidays as well as during my breaks, so that definitely won’t happen. Unless of course, you plan on eloping with the imaginary father of your imaginary child. I guess it also depends on how busy I’ll be with my studies, but…’
‘You’re missing the point. What I’m trying to say, is that … well, I thought that maybe we should like … hug? You know, to mark the occasion or something.’
‘A hug? Now? You and me?’
‘Come on, just this once.’
‘If you insist. It’s the request of my precious little sister, after all. I’ll do it, for you.’
But then, Shiho crossed her arms on her chest.
‘If we’re going to do this, let’s make a bet,’ she continued.
‘What?’
‘I would say chances are very slim – not even one in a million – but if one of us starts to cry, then that person loses.’
‘I’m in. What are we betting?’
‘How about something like, even if your ice-cream goes missing, you have to turn a blind eye?’
‘What about taking a photo in one of Tae-chan’s fanciest outfits? That’s a consequence you’d want to avoid.’
‘But if Tae-chan found out, she’d make us both get dressed up.’
‘True. Let’s go with the ice-cream, then.’
Shiho got out of her chair and sat across Kaho.
‘Ready?’
‘Let’s go.’
In similar motions, they both spread their arms wide and wrapped them around each other’s backs in a tight embrace. For a while, they stayed that way in silence. It was Kaho who spoke first.
‘Take care, okay? Don’t forget to eat properly. And you know that you can message me anytime, right?’
‘Thanks. You take care of yourself, too. Oh, and please look after Tae-chan and Dad.’
‘Okay. Hey, Big Sis?—’
