Mitso Hitomi
"Hey, why didn't you tell me there was such a beautiful girl in your class?" a boy said, nudging his friend with his elbow.
His friend glanced at the girl and froze, struck by her beauty. Her shiny black hair fell over her shoulder. She sat in her chair with perfect posture, wearing black stockings, one leg crossed over the other.
"Because she has a boyfriend," the friend said, his voice tinged with bitterness. He knew a girl that stunning would be taken, but it stung that he never even got a chance to tell her how he felt.
"Who? Who's her boyfriend?" the boy asked.
"I don't know exactly, but some girls say it's a college student. So forget about her," the friend replied.
"That's a shame," the boy said, shaking his head in disappointment.
The girl they were talking about was writing in her notebook. When she finished, she put it in her bag, stood up, and left the classroom. She felt the boys' eyes on her as she walked out, but she was used to it. She headed to the station, boarded a crowded train, and went home. On the train, a man tried to molest her. She quickly broke his wrist and reported him to the police.
After giving her statement, she got home and stepped inside. Right away, she smelled something burning.
"Ashi!" she yelled, rushing into the house. In the kitchen, she found the source—a small boy trying to cook on the stove. The food was charred, and he stood there with his thumb in his mouth, staring at it.
Hearing her voice, the boy turned. "Big Sis… sorry, I burned it again," he said, bowing his head.
"You…" The girl walked over and lightly tapped his head—not hard, but enough to sting. "Didn't I tell you not to use the stove without me?" she said, raising her voice.
"Sorry… I just wanted to make something for you," he said, lowering his head more, his hand rubbing the spot she'd hit.
She looked at her little brother, sighed, and pulled him into a hug. "It's okay, but don't do it alone again. I'll teach you, so wait for me next time."
"Yes, I won't," he said, hugging her back.
Her name was Mitso Hitomi. She lived alone with her brother, Asahi, after their parents died in an accident.
Later, in the bathtub, Hitomi lay with Asahi in her arms. He rested his head on her chest, playing with a rubber duck.
"Big Sis, are you going to leave me?" Asahi asked, still focused on the duck.
"Who said that?" she replied.
"Aunt said after you graduate high school, you'll leave town for university."
"Yes, but I'm not leaving you. You're coming with me, so don't worry. I'll never leave you," Hitomi said, squeezing him tight.
"Don't leave, okay? Never leave me alone," Asahi said, his body trembling.
"We'll always be together. I won't leave you," she promised.
---
"Thank you so much for the past three years," Hitomi said, bowing.
"No big deal, but are you sure you can manage on your own?" the young man asked. He had black hair and a handsome face. He looked at Hitomi with concern.
"Yes, don't worry. If anything comes up, I'll call you," she said with a smile. The young man was her cousin. He'd once pretended to be her boyfriend in front of her friends.
Her friends spread the rumor at school, which stopped all the boys from confessing to her.
"Little one, you've got to protect your sister, okay?" the cousin said, ruffling Asahi's hair.
"Of course! Like you taught me—if I see a guy with my sister, I kick them in the balls," Asahi said, nodding eagerly as he clung to Hitomi.
"What? What did you teach him?" Hitomi said, glaring at her cousin.
"Haha, don't stress about it. If anything happens, I'm here. So are your cousin sister, aunt, and uncle. Don't feel too lonely, and visit us sometimes, okay?" he said.
"Of course. I won't forget how kind Aunt and Uncle have been. I'll visit soon," Hitomi said, smiling. Then she said goodbye to the town where she'd grown up.