Yuuki and Yui stood in silence, watching the bus as it slowly faded out of view. They traded looks, releasing each other’s hands.
“Let’s go.”
Yui nodded, and so they set off for the station next.
“Whew, I’m beat.” Yui said with a sigh within the first few steps.
She really did seem beat, mellowing out to an almost comical degree. On that note, Yui fell quiet, wordlessly walking shoulder to shoulder with Yuuki.
He thought she looked a little down in the dumps, so Yuuki asked, “Tired?”
“You bet.”
“But you were so lively just now, almost annoyingly so.”
Yuuki expected her to bite back, but all he got in return was silence.
Sometime passed before Yui, facing forward, eventually mumbled, “I was just trying to compliment the mood. I’m a girl of seven faces, you know? Too exhausted to keep the act going, though. Running out of mana.”
“Even Yui, the natural born actress, has her limits, huh?”
“I wish you’d stop making fun of me.”
Yui shot back, though her delivery lacked bite. Her face was dead serious, and it didn’t sound like she was joking.
After another brief window of silence, Yui, still facing forward, muttered, “I lost on purpose, by the way. To avoid spoiling the mood.”
“Sure you did.”
“Listen, contrary to popular belief, I’m not that bad at video games, okay? Also, I was always a bamboo shoot kind of girl.” Yui said in an awfully serious tone. Yuuki looked at her in disbelief, only for Yui to let her gaze wander, not so much smiling. “In situations like these it’s best to take on a clearly defined role, even if it’s that of the clown. Mina seemed to enjoy herself. I’m glad to see she’s... gotten a lot better over time. I honestly didn’t expect Rio to go that hard on me but, if it helps bring a smile to her face, I don’t mind one bit.” Yui said, cracking a slight smile, only to immediately lower her eyes, her expression stiffening.
“I don’t want to be hated by my friends either, so I subconsciously play the clown to get on their good side. I was scared too... you know? I had no idea what made Rio so angry with me. My mind went completely blank as I thought ‘crap, was it this? No, maybe that?’ until I eventually figured that it was everything, all the little things combining to form the perfect storm.” Yui paused upon those words. “Look at me, talking all by myself.” She said with a wry smile.
“I thought with so many friends you wouldn’t really care for each individual one but looks like I was wrong. I have basically no friends, so I wouldn’t even know where to start. It’s commendable, it really is.”
“I don’t have that many friends, just the regular amount. Also, it’s not like I’m perfect or anything, as you saw. Maan, can I get anything right?”
Yui looked up to the sky, heaving a heavy sigh. She seemed unusually gloomy,
not a trace of her lively, boisterous self from mere moments ago to be found.
“You know, I was losing my mind the last time too. I’m in a room alone, Mina’s still not home, and my mind’s racing like ‘what do I do, what do I do’. Then, when she started crying, I knew I had to say something but just thinking about Mina telling me to shut up almost made me cry.” Yui said, falling silent.
Yuuki glanced over, only to see her on the brink of tears. “Yui…”
Next thing he knew, Yuuki had stopped moving, anchored in place.
Have I... saddled her with an unwanted burden, thinking that it’s okay because it’s Yui?
“Sorry, Yui. I…”
Nothing came after the I, no cool line to cheer Yui up when she needed it most; Yuuki didn’t have the mental alacrity to come up with something on the fly.
Even his apology appeared to fall flat as Yui proceeded without him. As the distance between them gradually grew, step by step, it felt as though a wall had formed before him, blocking Yuuki’s path. What if she leaves me behind... for good? The foreboding thought crossed Yuuki’s mind as Yui abruptly stopped.
She then turned around, approaching with a light, almost bouncy step. Yui wordlessly extended her hand, placing it on Yuuki’s head. She smiled, patting him. “Now now, don’t cry. You’re a big brother, remember?”
“You’re a big brother now, Yuuki. Don’t cry in front of Mina.”
Mom said shortly after Mina was born as she patted his head, her hand warm, gentle, calming.
Yuuki thought mom’s patting had mystical power, so he mimicked her when soothing Mina, hoping to replicate even half, nay, one tenth of said power.
At that moment, the gentle touch Yuuki had once forgotten came flooding back.
Yui isn’t your mom; they’re two completely separate people. Never forget that. You’re not a small, helpless child anymore either. No more burderning her... no more relying on her.
Yuuki lifted his head, looking Yui right in the eye; he had finally found the right words “Yui…”
Just as he was about to say them, Yui quickly removed her hand. “Ha, gotcha!” Her cheery voice resounded.