I Don't Want To Be A Heroine!

Chapter 23 - Realization and Acceptance

"Wow, Yui-chan, I can't believe you thought I was Tadashi's woman!" Asuka-nee-san roared in laughter.

"W-well, I. . . um,"

"Did you feel anything while you were thinking that?"

We stopped walking, waiting for the elevator to come down to this level. I looked at Asuka-nee-san once we got inside.

"I can't explain it in words but, there was a feeling inside my chest that was just. . ." I freed my left palm and made a crushing gesture. After that, there was only silence.

Before opening the door to Hyouka-chan's room, Asuka-nee-san faced me and said, "Yui-chan, that's called jealousy."

I walked towards Yoemon and handed him his drink.

"Are you okay?" He inquired. I nodded but I'm not entirely sure that I am. I sipped my coffee and stared at my toes. While Hyouka-chan was chatting away with her parents, Yoemon leaned in and talked in my ear.

"She had Selective Mutism." He crossed his arms. "She was supposed to be in kindergarten, but she broke down on her first day. My parents and sister were away so I had to skip class and go pick her up. When I got there, she was shaking and grabbing onto her teacher's skirt. It took longer than normal to have her voice back," Yoemon chuckled a little.

"She's lucky she has a brother like you," I glanced at him and immediately regretted it. His face was too close! I shifted my gaze to the other side, my face burning.

"I-I, ahem, I guess so." Said Yoemon.

Why does my chest hurt so much?

Asuka-nee-san and Yoemon gave me a ride home and I may have fallen asleep in the car. I woke up the next morning in my bed with no memories of how I got there.

"Good morning, Yui-chan." My mother smiled while preparing breakfast. "Did you sleep well?"

I nodded. "Mom, how did I get to bed last night? Did Dad carry me?" I took a bite of the bread.

"Oh no, your dad is impossible to wake up once he's out. Your tall friend carried you up."

I choked on my juice. Yoemon carried me to my bed?! And my mother was okay with a man she just met doing that?!?

"Oh, and he said he'll call you later," Mom continued. And as if on cue, my cellphone started ringing. I suddenly felt a tightening in my chest once I saw who was calling.

"H-Hello? Yoemon? Uh, I'll ask my mom," I covered the phone with my free hand. "Mom, can I go with Yoemons tomorrow? There's a party for his sister,"

"Hm? Yeah, okay."

"Hello? Yeah, my mom says okay. A dress? Do I really have to? Fine. No, I can go there myself. Okay okay, fine, whatever. Three pm, got it. Thanks Yoemon, bye!"

I hung up. Apparently, the Yoemons are throwing a farewell plus birthday party for Asuka-nee-san tomorrow. Their other family and friends will also be there. I was kind of hesitant to just barge in on a family event but Yoemon reassured me that it'll be fine since his sister also decided to invite the rest of the gang.

At twelve noon the next day, I still didn't have anything to wear. I don't own a dress, my mother's dresses were too big for me, and I tried to borrow from Sakura but the difference in size was just too big.

So here we are at the mall. Sakura practically dragged me here so we can go shopping. She found me a dress that just reached my knees, and it was gray; my favorite color. After purchasing the dress, at around 2 pm, she dragged me to her house so she can doll me up.