I'm Being Threatened by My Sister's Ex-girlfriend. (GL) - Chapter 22
I didn’t have a bucket, so I filled a basin with water.
The image of myself in the mirror, wearing shorts and a T-shirt, looked quite silly. I hugged the smooth, white basin to my side and opened the freezer. I grabbed two classic stick ice creams, then opened the window that led to the balcony.
The summer night smelled like damp soil. It was a little like the scent after rain, mixed with the fresh smell of new leaves. I imagined that, even behind the view of old apartments, cars passing on the road, and tall gray buildings, there must be hidden greenery. The gentle summer breeze stirred the night air, carrying the scent with it.
“Hakobe, ice cream.”
“Do you want cider or pear flavor?”
Hakobe, in her uniform, spoke without turning around.
“Both are available.”
“Yay! I’ll have the pear.”
“I’d prefer the pear too.”
“Then, we’ll have to decide with rock-paper-scissors.”
Finally turning around, Hakobe stretched out her hand.
Her hair, a little longer than when we first met, floated lightly in the wind. The indigo-blue color of her hair blended into the darkening sky, blurring the boundary between her and the night.
“Alright. I’ll let you have it. After all, you’re older.”
I hooked my sneaker on the balcony and stepped outside, handing her the ice cream package with a character illustration printed on it. We opened the packaging together.
With the ice cream stick in her hand, Hakobe tilted her head.
“What should we do with the wrapper?”
“Hmm, let me have it.”
I shoved the wrapper, along with my own, into the pocket of my shorts. Hakobe’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Isn’t that dirty?”
“Wow, it’s been a while since I heard ‘dirty.’”
“It’s all sticky.”
I ignored her and took a bite of the pale blue, square-shaped ice pop. The coldness hit my front teeth, and the ice chips scattered on my tongue. A refreshing sweetness spread all over my mouth.
“The fireworks haven’t started, huh?”
“They’re probably delayed. It rained a little while ago.”
“Ah.”
I could hear the sound of crunching. Hakobe was eating her ice cream quickly. She must be good with cold food. I, on the other hand, wasn’t very fond of stick ice creams. They always made me feel rushed.
“Was it alright to be in a place like this?”
“Huh?”
“For the fireworks festival. If we go to the seaside park, there are food trucks, and even mini live performances. And of course, the fireworks will look much bigger.”
“It’s fine.”
“You wanted to see the fireworks, didn’t you?”
“Well, not exactly.”
Hakobe’s small, red tongue traced the surface of the melting ice cream.
“The real charm of a fireworks festival isn’t the fireworks themselves. Of course, it’s not the shaved ice from the stalls or even her yukata.”
“So, what is it?”
“It’s sneaking away together and watching the small fireworks from a distance. It’s talking while holding sparklers. That’s the true essence of a fireworks festival. That’s everything.”
With that confident declaration, Hakobe quickly finished the rest of her ice cream. I wondered where she had gotten this idealized image of youth from.
“Next, please.”
“Huh? Oh. Oh wow.”
Somehow, the ice cream in my hand had started to melt. I hastily took a bite. Hakobe bit into the other side, almost making her nose brush against mine.
Wait, what?
I could hear the crunching sound of the ice breaking.
But it was too late; the light blue sugary liquid started to drip down into my palm.
“Oh, it’s dripping.”
From between the pale pink ice, a red tongue peeked out. No way. Just as that thought crossed my mind, I felt it—her tongue licked the inside of my wrist. My thumb twitched involuntarily.
The area she licked felt cool due to the evaporating moisture.
Her selfish tongue flicked over her lips.
“Mmm. The soda flavor is also really good.”
Hakobe glanced at me briefly. Maybe she was expecting some kind of reaction. When I didn’t respond, she made a puzzled face.
“You’re not mad about that?”
“…It’s too late now.”
I bit down on the remaining stick, feeling the wood splinter slightly. I had to distract myself like this, or else my head might overheat and spiral out of control.
“Hmm. Well, fine.”
Hakobe looked over at the bundle of sparklers she had placed on the air conditioner. Beside them was a hundred-yen lighter.
“Shall we start? The fireworks show hasn’t started yet, it seems.”
“Sure.”
She ripped off the paper tape that was holding the bundle together. Taking one sparkler at a time, she handed them to me.
“Didn’t you used to do this with your sister? See who could make the sparkler last the longest?”
“Yeah, maybe we did.”
There may have been nights like that.
Our family home was a small, detached house with a little garden. There was a space between the flower planters my mother grew and the station wagon, behind the parking area. That was my and Hakobe’s favorite spot. I still remember the night we played with sparklers there.
Since we were both playing with sparklers, we must have made small bets. Things like tomorrow’s snack or who would do the bathroom cleaning chores — simple little things, like tips for the game.
“How about we make a bet, just for fun?”
“A bet on what?”
“Anything, really. Let’s see… If I win, then next time, you’ll let me touch your right br3ast.”
I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Wait, no, I said no dirty stuff.”
“I didn’t even say anything inappropriate.”
“Come on, you were practically implying it! And why specify the right one?”
“One side is enough…”
What does that mean? This is getting creepy.
“Then, how about we take a shower together? We’ve both sweated a lot.”
“Did you even hear what I just said?”
“We’re just taking a shower, it’s not anything pervy.”
There’s no way that’s true.
“…So, you really don’t want to?”
That was unfair. I thought, how can she sound so lonely like that? Don’t make that face on a summer night, you’re going to get me all worked up.
I tugged at the fabric around my chest, pulling it slightly to check the lingerie underneath. It wasn’t the highest quality, but it was good enough to be seen by others without feeling embarrassed.
“Fine, okay.”
Hakobe’s eyes widened. A mischievous gleam flashed in her pupils.
“Huh? Really? Alright then. If you win, what do you want?”
If I won, what would I want?
I leaned against the fence, stretching my arms out to either side as if offering my entire body.
Before I could think, the words just came out.
“Your hair.”
“What?”
“Change the color of your hair. I don’t like the blue.”
I said it almost absentmindedly, as if the words slipped out on their own.
“I’ve been thinking this for a while now, but I think another color would suit you much better than indigo. Maybe pink… or red.”
Hakobe took a slight breath.
She reached up to tug at the ends of her hair. The indigo blue was beautifully dyed, gleaming under the light.
Her eyes lowered slightly, and I could see the faint glimmer of unshed tears in her eyes.
After a brief silence, Hakobe spoke.
“…That might not be a bad idea.”
Her voice carried a hint of melancholy.
“It’s been this way for a long time, after all. I’m starting to feel like… maybe I’m getting tired of it.”
Hakobe brushed the hem of her checkered skirt and bent her knee. Her pale knee showed, and she looked down at the sparklers in her hand.
“Alright then, let’s make this a real game. Tsuguno, no?”