The disease of lies [Hachiman x Yukino]

Chapter 5 : Love

"Nee-san? What are you doing here?" I said, closing the door behind me.

"Am I not allowed to visit my beloved little sister once in a while?" She took a sip of her glass of wine.

"If you came here to annoy me, I suggest you leave. I'm honestly not in the mood to put up with your antics." I grumbled as I kicked off my shoes and shed my jacket, tossing them aside

"It's been a while since last time." She approached me.

Fortunately, my tears had subsided earlier, so she didn't see them. Nee-san came at the worst moment. I don't know if I could tolerate her teasing tonight.

"You came later than usual, where have you been? With Hikigaya-kun~?" She cupped my face in her hands.

The mention of his name could make my heart tremble for a millisecond. Especially after what happened between us...

"Don't touch me, I'm tired." I walked past her, pulling away from her hands.

"What happened to your eyes? They're red like pools of blood."

I paid no mind to her comment, my thoughts already focused on the task of changing into more comfortable night clothes. Without so much as a glance in her direction, I hastened to my room and shut the door behind me.

I undid my neck tie and sat down on my bed. After a quick change of clothes, I put my uniform in the closet.

I looked at the Pan-san plushy next to my pillow. Its eyes alone were enough to make me think about him, and enough to make me feel how my heart is influenced by his presence, words, and actions.

"Yukino-chan, the tea is ready!" Nee-san's voice echoed in my own room.

I was reluctant to go, but now that Nee-san is here, I don't really have a choice. I'll try not to be too pessimistic tonight.

Maybe I'll have a normal dinner with her for once.

I let my hopes get the best of me as I stood up and walked out of my bedroom.

Nee-san was sitting on the couch, her cup of tea on the table in front of her, with another next to it. She patted the place next to her.

"Come here, it looks like you've got a lot to tell tonight."

"Who said I was going to tell you anything?"

"Aw, please don't be so stubborn. I can read through you like an open book. Something happened, didn't it? Come here, I promise I won't tease you."

"..."

I was hesitant to bring up the subject with my sister. However, at this moment, I felt an overwhelming need to be heard, to have someone understand what I was going through. Perhaps it was the confluence of my fragile state and her unexpected presence that led me to this feeling.

Nee-san had assured me that she was willing to listen to anything I might have to say, and while there was a part of me cautioning against it, I couldn't shake the notion that this was exactly what I needed at this moment.

"Fine..."

I finally took my seat by Nee-san on the couch, then I grabbed my cup of tea and began to drink.

"Did you argue with Hikigaya-kun?"

"How did you-"

"I know you better than anyone else, I have literally watched you grow from the beginning. I could easily catch the subtle shift in your expression when I mentioned his name earlier."

Now I know I could not lie to her.

I stroked the handle of my cup with my thumb, and stared at its half-empty contents.