Part 2
“How dare you break your promise to me?”
“Ah-ha-ha…”
My sister’s dragged me to her room and is sitting mounted on top of me.
“And you even lied to me, too.”
“When you say ‘lied,’ which lie would that be?”
“Excuse me? Which lie?”
My neck lets out a loud creeeeeeak as she squeezes down on it.
Looks like I just dug my own grave.
The thing is, I can’t even count how many times I’ve lied to her, and I have no idea which promise she’s talking about.
“Th-that hurts, Sis…”
It doesn’t actually, though.
“You’re not suggesting you lied to me about other things, too, are you?”
“I didn’t, I promise.”
I totally did.
“For real?”
“Yeah, for real.”
She brings her face in so close, our noses are nearly touching, and peers into my eyes. “You have clear eyes. That’s the sign of an honest heart. I guess you’re telling the truth.”
You need to get your vision checked, Sis.
“You should know that when you lie to me, I always figure you out. Why did you even tell it in the first place?”
“Ah, right. That lie. The one about the you-know-what.”
“Yeah, the lie you told me about Nina.”
“About Nina?”
Huh?
I don’t think I ever lied to her about Nina.
“You haven’t forgotten, have you?”
“Of course not. You’re talking about the thing with Nina. Look, it’s hard to explain in just a few words, but there were extenuating circumstances…”
“Sigh… You probably said it without thinking because you wanted to impress me, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, that. Totally.”
“I can see right through you, you know.”
“I’m sorry I did it.”
“Very well. I forgive you. But just this once.”
With that, the conversation comes to an end.
Or rather, it should, but Claire keeps on staring at me.
“Sis, you’re kinda heavy. Were you planning on getting off me at some—? Hrk!”
M-my neck…
“I’m sorry, Cid, did you say something?”
“I—I was just saying how light you are, Sis, and how you’re the prettiest person around!”
“Well, that makes sense. It is true, after all.”
“Yeah, so true.”
“Hee-hee. You keep getting older, but you’ll always just be Cid. I hope you never have to change. I…”
Dunno why, but Claire starts getting serious all of a sudden.
“Sis?”
“I won’t back down from any enemy, no matter how strong they are. Not if fighting them will let you stay just the way you are.”
“Uh…”
Methinks a certain someone’s symptoms might be getting worse.
“Look, Cid, I need you to listen close. Right now, the academy is in the wicked clutches of a powerful organization.”
“Ah, so that’s the scenario we’re working with?”
“Don’t. If I tell you any details, you’ll be in danger. Don’t look at me like that. I can’t say any more.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“I’m going to solve the academy’s mysteries. I have a plan. It’s dangerous, but…I’m doing this for you, so I know I can be strong.”
“Yeah, good luck.”
“Make sure you watch your back, Cid. You might get targeted for being my brother. But I’m going to do my best to take down the bad guys.”
“Yeah, go get ’em.”
“I’m sorry for dumping all this on you. And I’m sorry for not being able to tell you any of the important bits. But I’m doing this to protect you. I know this is selfish of me, but I want you to understand that.”
“Yeah, I get it.”
“And also…if I don’t make it back… If I die—”
Midway through her teary speech, she abruptly glares at a patch of empty air.
“I’m sorry, Aurora, but this is kind of emotional, so would you mind being quiet? Huh, what? I’m embarrassing myself, so I should just drop it? How exactly am I embarrassing—?”
I look up with a deadpan expression on my face, and our eyes meet.
“Sis…”
“O-oh, that was, um, um, um, nothing! Just talking to myself!”
“Sis, I get it.”
“Cid…you do? You get that there’s an important reason I’m doing all this?”
“Yeah, of course.”
You’re a budding teenage edgelord.
“Thank you, Cid. I don’t deserve a brother as good as you. And if…if I don’t make it—if I die…” Big tears go rolling down her cheeks.
“You’ll be fine, Sis. You definitely won’t die.”
“Oh, Cid!! I’ll definitely make it back!! I definitely, definitely will!!”
“Sounds good.”
She hugs me so tight, I’m afraid my spine will snap.
I hope she grows out of this soon.
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