When I returned from exploring the dungeon to save the world, I found out that my lover had been stolen, and I was blamed for the failed expedition. Enraged, I quit Japan's strongest party—only for them to self-destruct on their own. - Chapter 42

“I’m glad you’re alive…”

“Is that so?”

Right in front of me stood my sister—the one who had been missing.

Koichi was supposed to be handling a corporate case, so why did he end up rescuing my sister? What kind of situation is this?

And more importantly, what was up with that channel name?!

I wanted to press him about it, but he told me it would be better for my sister and me to have some time alone, then walked away before I could stop him.

I was worried about my sister—that much was true.

She might have given up on herself, but she was still my only sister…

So, no matter what, I wasn’t lying when I said I was glad she was alive.

“Is that so?”

“Did you just want to show off how happy you are with Koichi?”

“That’s not—”

But, unfortunately, Koichi, sitting down for a proper conversation seems impossible.

Too much has changed between my sister and me—even casual conversation feels impossible now.

Her eyes were empty, devoid of emotion, as she looked at me.

I didn’t know what to say.

The last time we spoke properly, after Koichi walked out… I slapped her across the face as hard as I could.

Because I hated her for what she did.

Why did you abandon him?

Why did you choose him over Koichi?

Why didn’t you chase after him?

Why didn’t you even try to explain yourself?

Were your feelings for him really that shallow?

Why? Why? Why?

That was all I could think about.

But…

When I heard she had gone missing, my heart sank.

I found out that she had gone to pick up Kazuno when he was released from prison—there was a record of it. But after that, while they were driving, there was an accident.

Their car broke through a guardrail and plunged into the sea.

When I heard that… all I could think was, You’re supposed to be an explorer, Kazuno. If nothing else, you should’ve at least saved my sister. You pursued her just to spite Koichi—so take responsibility until the end.

And maybe… I was sad. Maybe I was lonely.

Left completely alone, I felt an undeniable emptiness in my heart.

We had become irrevocably estranged.

Even though we were each other’s only family.

Maybe this outcome was inevitable since we fell for the same person. Maybe there was no way to avoid it. But still, I was lonely.

And at the same time, I resented her. Because she had hurt the person I loved. Because she had done this to him.

After she disappeared, I confessed to Koichi. We became a couple.

I was happy. Genuinely happy.

I wasn’t trying to show off our relationship to her.

I wasn’t thinking, You were in the way all along.

I had my regrets. But if she, Koichi—my brother—had found happiness together, I would have accepted it.

But that’s not how it turned out.

She was the one who threw that future away.

She hurt him. And for that, I resented her.

But still… I was glad she was alive. That much was true.

Even so, we had nothing to say to each other anymore.

Our lives had changed too much.

And I had no power to change that.

Even after reuniting, there was nothing we could do.

Maybe all I could do was accept that knowing she was alive was enough.

“Heh… I’m sorry.”

“Huh?”

Just as I had given up, she suddenly apologized.

“This isn’t what I wanted to say…”

“Yeah.”

She must have known.

She understood exactly what she had done—what she had caused.

She knew that things could never go back to the way they were.

Her face remained emotionless, but the way her gaze dropped… was it regret? Or remorse?

“I’m leaving. But I’m alive.”

“…Okay.”

I pulled my sister into an embrace.

She had lost everything.

But not everything.

Because I was still here. Because we were still sisters.

The paths we walk will probably never cross again.

I can’t even picture it happening.

But for now, just knowing she’s alive is enough.

“So, my sister is planning to move to our parents’ hometown.”

“I see…”

Koichi frowned slightly as he listened, but his expression was one of reluctant acceptance.

There was nothing anyone could do.

If anything, Koichi should be the one who had the right to be angry.

She abandoned him, hurt him, dragged him through hell.

And yet, he still seemed worried about her.

“Well, it’s not like she committed a crime… As long as she’s alive and well, that’s enough.”

He must still hold onto those memories.

The ones from when the three of us were together.

The ones from when it was just him and my sister.

Back when things were happy—before it all fell apart.

My sister… the one who got caught up with Kazuno.

Neither Koichi nor I could have done anything to stop that.

But even so… I’m grateful that Koichi is the kind of person who still thought, I’m glad she’s alive.

And in my mind, I imagined Kazuno being utterly destroyed in every gruesome way I could think of.

Then, I turned back to Koichi.

“Thank you for saving my sister.”

I bowed deeply as I said it.

“…Yeah.”

Koichi gently placed a hand on my head.

He really is kind.

I wrapped my arms around him and pressed my lips to his.

And I made a vow—

“Koichi, I will make sure you are truly happy. So prepare yourself.”