A Love Longed for the Tiger Lily (GL) - Chapter 2

“Why are there four servings for dinner?”

“Oh, right! Wakana, there’s something I’d like to ask you.”

My mother sat beside me, her eyes sparkling like she was about to drop a bombshell.

“Remember your cousin, Sayo-chan?”

“Of course I do.”

Igarashi Sayo (五十嵐 紗夜) is my maternal aunt’s daughter. Her father passed away early, so her mother raised her alone.

Because they lived nearby and her mother often had a hard time doing everything on her own, my mom helped out a lot—meaning Sayo and I ended up spending a lot of time together.

I think she used to visit until I was in high school.
Back then, Sayo was a cheerful elementary schooler who really adored me.
She’s seven years younger than me, so she must be in high school now.

She was always bright and beautiful, with a glowing presence.
Honestly, if the age gap had only been three years, I might’ve actually tried to date her—she was that pretty.

“So, what about her?”

“My sister remarried, and she asked if we could take Sayo-chan in for a while. It sounds like Sayo and her new stepfather didn’t get along at all, and now they’ve just gone off overseas—leaving Sayo behind. Really, that sister of mine is so selfish, I don’t know what to do with her. So Sayo’s staying here for now, but… would you mind letting her stay at your place for a little while?”

Why me?

It’s not like Sayo and I talk anymore. And now that I’m older, it’s not easy to just strike up a conversation with a kid.
That’s what I wanted to say to my mom—but I kept it to myself.

“What’s the reason?”

“Well, she’s using your old room, but the air conditioner broke, and it’s so hot this time of year. I don’t want her getting heatstroke or anything… It’ll only be until we can get it fixed, so please?”

My mother clasped her hands together in a pleading bow.

It was true—being trapped in that stuffy room in the middle of summer sounded awful.

It wasn’t going to be for long, and honestly, I had been feeling kind of lonely lately.
If that adorable little girl had grown up into an even more beautiful teenager, well… it wouldn’t hurt to have her around, right?

“Alright, sure.”

“Oh, thank goodness! Apparently she had a falling-out with some friends and became kind of wary around women. She’s a bit colder than she was as a kid, but she’s really a sweet girl deep down! I’ll go call her.”

My mom bustled up the stairs.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t used my room in a while…
Did I leave anything weird in there?

Even though it had been years, she used to look up to me like I was her big sister.
I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of her now.

Before they came back downstairs, my dad emerged from the bath.
He casually lifted his hand in a quick wave, so I did the same in return.

He probably already knew I’d broken up with my girlfriend, but he didn’t mention it—which was honestly a relief.
My parents never made a fuss about my love life. They just let me be, and even supported me living with my girlfriend.

A moment later, my mom returned—with a school-uniformed girl following behind.
And I was stunned.
It was her—the same beautiful girl who’d been harassed by that sleazy guy in the city earlier.

No… no way.

I’d always thought she was cute as a kid, but now?
How does someone become this gorgeous?

Her semi-long black hair shimmered like silk, her eyes were wide and perfectly shaped, with a clear double-lid fold, her lashes were long like a horse’s, her nose was symmetrical, and her lips were beautifully shaped.
She looked like a heroine straight out of a manga.

Even though we used to be close, I suddenly felt like I couldn’t speak to her so casually anymore.
Not to mention… just earlier, she told me not to touch her and looked completely disgusted.

“Alright, let’s eat together!” my mom said brightly.

Sayo sat across from me like nothing had happened.

Throughout the meal, neither of us said a word.
It was only my mom doing the talking.
The rest of us remained silent, like we didn’t know what to say.

“Tomorrow’s moving day for Sayo-chan! Wakana, be sure to help her, okay?”

“…Got it,” I replied quietly.

“Thank you very much,” Sayo said, bowing deeply.

My mom smiled at her.

“You don’t have to be so formal, you know? We’re family.”

Seeing her treat Sayo so kindly made me feel just a little proud of my mom.

Today had been overwhelming.
I was exhausted and ready to crash for the night—
But then I realized something shocking.

Wait…
Do I even have a place to sleep tonight?

“Mom, can I borrow your bed tonight?”

“What are you talking about? You’re too old to be sleeping with your mom!”

“Well, I mean… if Sayo’s using my room, where am I supposed to sleep?”

“Oh, don’t be silly. You two used to sleep together all the time when you were younger. Just do that!”

…What?

I swallowed the urge to shout, “Are you serious!?”
Then glanced at Sayo—
She looked completely disgusted.

Yeah.
That was the face I expected after what happened earlier.

Without missing a beat, my mom pushed us into the room and waved us off with a cheerful, “Good night!”

Now what…?

What was I supposed to say after all this time?

“…It’s been a while. You’ve really changed since you were little—I didn’t even recognize you at first.”

I tried my best to keep my voice steady as I spoke to her, nerves pressing against my throat.
As the older one, I felt I had to take the lead here.

“You’ve really changed, Taniguchi-san.
Also, please don’t talk to me.
I’ll sleep on the floor, so feel free to use the bed.”

Taniguchi-san…?
She used to call me Wakana-chan.
Why was she suddenly acting so distant and reserved?

Honestly, being rejected by two beautiful women in a single day—
I was convinced I was the unluckiest woman in the world, a truly pitiful working adult in her late twenties.

Still, there were more important things to deal with—like the fact that Sayo was seriously trying to sleep on the floor.

Panicked, I quickly scooped up her much smaller frame and placed her gently on the bed.

I thought I felt her body stiffen for a moment, but I didn’t let it stop me.
That didn’t matter right now.

If she caught a cold, I’d be the one getting scolded by my parents.
So, I just needed her to sleep in the bed like a normal person.

“I won’t talk to you or touch you anymore. Just—please, stay here and sleep, okay?”

I turned her onto the side closest to the wall and pulled the blanket over her.
But instead of settling down, she sat up and glared at me.

“What about you, Taniguchi-san…?”

You’re the one who said not to talk to you… I wanted to say, but I held it in.
I turned my back to her and lay down on the edge of the bed.

She didn’t move after that, just remained quietly in place.
That was enough to reassure me—and I soon drifted off to sleep.