A Fault Between Us

Upon waking up to my alarm, snapping me out from my dream, I quickly turn off the blaring, obnoxious sound before staring off at the ceiling. In my arms I notice that I'm still holding the plushie as I gently stroke it's bunny ears.

"Good morning, sister."

I know it's ridiculous to talk to a plushie, but I like to think that my sister would also do the same to hers, wherever she might be. We're quite alike in that regard, knowing what the other is feeling or thinking, but even so, thinking that my sister is out there, who's also probably hurting as much as me only makes this even worse...

"Ah- good morning, Luna."

"EH?!"

Suddenly hearing a voice, I spring out of bed before getting ready to engage the intruder, but that was when I notice something quite peculiar.

"Sorry about borrowing your kitchen. It's not much, but I'd like to repay you for the dinner last night, and also for helping me."

That's right. This girl, Midori. I had her stay the night here. Thinking that, I lower my guard, but it was then I pieced together what her words meant as I see her bringing over two plates to the table in front of me.

"...Rice?"

"Sorry! It's the only thing I know how to cook."

What she put down is simply put, plain white rice... Nothing else.

"...You didn't use my rice for this, did you?"

"U-uhmm..."

Without a doubt, she did.

"Haah~ Alright."

I sit down at the table as we both have "breakfast" together. Only the moment I take the first bite-

"Hey... Did you even season this?"

"..."

"I take that as a no."

"I'm sorry. I know next to nothing about food."

"It's fine."

I don't bother to get up to get anything and simply finish eating the plain white rice. At least the rice is cooked well and isn't too dry or wet, but it seriously tastes like I'm just eating mush. There's zero flavor whatsoever.

Once we get changed into our uniforms and get organized for school, we both set on outside. Unlike last night, the rain has completely subsided as the sun is greeting us in full force.

"Make sure you go back to your parents this time and apologize."

"Kay~"

"I'm serious."

"Mhmm!"

I said that, thinking that maybe Midori would go back home first to her parents before coming to school, but to my surprise, she followed me all the way to school.

The more we got closer, the more students we could see. I'm used to attracting plenty of gazes, but this time it's almost overwhelming... It's surely because of this girl next to me...

"Mm-m-mmm~"

Meanwhile, she's happily walking next to me, not caring in the slightest at the people looking our way as she hums some sort of song.

"Should you really be walking with me all the way?"

"Mhmm! We're friends, after all."

"I didn't agree to this relationship."

"Eh~ Come on. We're in the same class so we have to get along."

We "have" to get along? I don't understand why she worded it like that. All this would do is hinder my progress for independence. Once I graduate, I plan on searching... searching for my lost sister. In order to do that, I need to sustain myself. That's what I "have" to do, not make friends... Especially not ones that don't even know how to season rice...

"Hehe. Let's go~"

"H-hey!"

Not caring about what I have to say, Midori takes me by the arm as we pass the school gate, heading straight for the lockers. I don't want to cause a scene so I find myself going along with Midori's flamboyancy.

But as we enter the class-

"What?"

"Wait, why is Luna with Midori?"

"I didn't know those two were close..."

We immediately attracted everyone's gazes. I feared this would happen, but it's too late to run away now. I say that, but I swiftly free myself from Midori as I attempt to flee to the back corner of the room next to the window where I sit. However-

"Hey, could we swap seats?"

"Eh? Uh-uh yes!"

Midori takes the seat from the guy in front of me as she turns the chair around as she now sits in front of me, facing me with a grin I can only describe as smug.

"And your plan is?"

"Hmmm?~ I wonder~"

This girl...

"Ah- Midori- eh? And Luna?"

"Yahoo~ Shin."

Suddenly joining us is none other than the guy that sits next to me. Wait, do these two know each other? I guess they do give off the same energy. Also his name's Shin?

"I didn't know you two were friends."

"Mhmm! We just became friends today."

Well, at least they're talking to themselves now. Just like usual, I take out my things from my bag for today.

"Studious as ever, haha."

"You're meant to study in school. You should also do that sometime."

"Heh, it sure is cold this morning."

I dismiss him, but that only seems to have put an even bigger smile on Midori's face.

"What?"

"Nothing~"

Just then, the bell rings out as everyone quickly sat down in their seats as our homeroom teacher came inside. Thank god... Now I can just go back to my thoughts as I look out the window.

"Good morning students. Today, a new student will be joining us. Please, introduce yourself."

Hmm? A transfer student? Quite rare, but I'm not all that interested as I instead focus on the students still running to school, desperately trying to make it in time. Of course they're already late, but that's of none of my concern.

"Uhm. My name is-"

Hmm, a boy? I guess that'll finally put our class into a perfect 50:50 split with male and females while also filling up the last remaining empty desk.

"You can take the seat just at the back there."

"Thank you."

So he'll be sitting next to Shin on our row? He sounds timid so he probably won't give me any problems. Plus it sounds like Shin has already started dealing with him. Actually, maybe his transfer here is a good thing, maybe this guy can finally stop pestering me-

"-and this here is, Luna. Let's all get along, yeah?"

Wait, did he seriously just introduce me to him? After hearing my name, I move my gaze back inside, towards Shin as I'm soon met with the new students gaze as well. What a pain...

"U-uhm. Pl-pleased to meet you."

"Nn."

I simply nod my head at him, not wanting to deal with another case as I look back out the window.

"Don't worry. She's not a deliquent. She's just shy."

"What?"

Hearing me get accused like that, I couldn't help but turn back around once more.

"I'm not shy, and if anyone's a deliquent it's you."

"Pfft, hahaha. Yeah, you see, Luna is actually hella smart. She aces all the tests, so feel free to go to her if you need help-"

"HUH?!"

"Fufufu."

Now it's Midori who's now laughing as she looks behind at the three of us. Don't tell me she somehow orchestrated this whole thing? I'm convinced that Midori is friends with Shin, so did she somehow plan for Shin to set this up for me? I can't explain the sudden transfer student though.

"Sorry, Luna. Shin's quite a social butterfly, right?"

"You didn't tell him anything?"

She could've sent him messages or even called him while I was asleep, talking about how she stayed the night at my place. I don't want him or any others to think I just let random people in my home...

"Nope! But it seems like he caught onto you warming up."

"Warming up?"

"Mhmm! See? You're talking with me quite normally right now. Everyone's taking notice of it."

As I move my gaze around the room, I do notice several onlookers spectating this entire scene, with most of their eyes on me. But the moment I lock eyes with them, they avert their eyes while whispering to their neighbors.

"See?"

"It's not like I'm cold to begin with. Like I said I just-"

"-Don't want to be close with anyone, right?"

"...Yeah."

To be honest, if Midori's fine with that, then I don't mind her hanging around me, or Shin for that matter. As long as they're fine with me taking a more passive role, then they can do whatever they want.

Homeroom soon finished up and with it came a new teacher for the first class of the day. I was worried for a bit, but Midori didn't turn around to speak to me during class, neither did Shin. And with that, we got through the first period with no problems.

Being in my second year, I have just one more year after this before I truly begin living on my own. I can't afford to throw my dreams away with stupid interactions.

"Hmm? Isn't the next teacher meant to be here now?"

"Yeah, what gives?"

However, a new problem soon arose as the next bell came as after a few minutes, there's still no sign of a teacher coming into class. Thankfully the next class is math which we're most likely expanding on what we learnt yesterday, which I've already studied ahead with my time in the library. But still... Sitting here in suspense is a bit unnerving.

"Sorry I'm late!"

But as the chatter in the class reached it's peak, the teacher bursts into the room with a bunch of books and papers in his arms as some of them even spill out and cascade onto the floor.

"Ah! My bad!"

His appearance is not of the old man that usually comes to teach us, but instead someone that could even pass as a third year in our own school. Is he a university student perhaps?

"Phew! There we go. Sorry about that. I'll be the substitute teacher for today. You're teacher called in sick so... so I-"

"Huh?"

But right as he stood up from collecting the papers that fell, I locked eyes with the teacher as he stopped mid sentence. Almost immediately, I felt my heart sink as I quickly stand up from desk, causing my chair to skate back. My mouth flutters open like it's trying to fly away, not knowing what to say. The other students begin whispering as neither me nor the teacher broke eye contact, not for a moment. It was only when I finally blinked that he finally spoke.

"Luna?"

Hearing him say that name caused my heart to finally begin beating once more and with it, I felt tears quickly begin to stream down my face, as if his words was a lever, opening the floodgates.

"Brother?"

And almost immediately after I muttered those words, his eyes too began to stream with tears, gliding down the massive scar on the right side of his face. Not wanting to wait any longer, I run through the asile and rows of students, not caring about the scene I might cause, as I fling my arms around him, jumping straight into his arms as I let my tears soak into his uniform.

We both remain there, silently crying as we tighten our hold with one another as the entire class becomes filled with chatter.

"A-are you really here?"

"Yes. I'm here."

He gently strokes my head as if to confirm to me that this isn't a dream.

"I have so much to talk to you about, but I don't want to lose my job, haha. We can talk soon, okay?"

"Nn..."

Hearing that, we eventually let go of one another as I could still see the remaining tears in his eyes.

"Head back to your seat, Luna."

"Nn!"

For the first time in a long time, I smile before walking back to my seat. The entire walk back, I saw many of the students staring at me, wondering what that was all about, but I couldn't contain my happiness right now as the corners of my mouth only continue to rise up as I slowly sit back in my seat.

"H-hey, Luna. Is he really your brother?"

Midori is the first to talk to me in a hushed tone. Of course she'd question it as my brother and I look nothing alike.

"Nn. He is."

"Alright, I'm sure you all have questions regarding what just happened-"

Right then, my brother wipes his tears before calling out to the class, prompting Midori to turn back to face the front.

"As you just witnessed, yes, Luna is my younger sister. But trust me that I won't let that hinder our lessons. If you have any questions, feel free to save them for after class."

At his words, everyone began looking at both my brother and I. I'm glad to see that he's doing well, but a teacher? Seriously? And at my school at that? Isn't he only five years older than me? I guess he's still training to be a fully fledged teacher given that he's just a substitute teacher, but even so, I'm glad to see that he's okay... But the moment I think that, my smile quickly vanishes as I think about my sister.

Where is she? How come I reunited with my brother and not my sister? In a way, I feel even more anxious about it, knowing that my brother is fine but my sister is still out there. I can't... feel happy yet... I let it slip out, but I need to focus on what's important. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to see my brother after so many years, but that's only reinforced my need to see my sister again.

After our parents died, due to our small family, Reina was the one to live with our grandparents, with me going to live with our father's friend. Our brother was also taken in by a friend of our parents as well. But it was only until after the fact did I realize that I'd never see my sister again. We were still in shock about what had just happened after all...

It took months, no- years for me to come to terms with my new living arrangements. The only thing that I had with me was the plushie and the winter gloves I got on that birthday. My sister ended up taking the scarf with her. Apart from that, my father's friend; my new guardian had some old pictures of my family, which I now have in my apartment. Looking at my brother now teaching the class, I like to think that he grew up quite well, finding a career in teaching, but I'm curious if he knows where our sister is.