Character Story 8: No Matter How Far Apart We Are
Scene: A farm.
Shizuru
WAAAHHHH!?
A horse neighs.
Shizuru
That was close! Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?
Shizuru
Ah, it's you! What a coincidence!
Shizuru
No, this time, it was a honest-to-goodness coincidence, so I was really startled!
Shizuru
What are you doing here?
Shizuru
Huh, you've been working as a postman? So sometimes you have to go back and forth between this farm and Landsol?
Shizuru
You've been working quite a lot, huh. I'm worried that if you work too much, you might pass out from exhaustion.
Shizuru
Though, compared to just milling about at home, having work like this is more meaningful, isn't it?
Shizuru
Hmm? Well, as you can see, your big sister is here learning how to ride a horse!
Shizuru
I wasn't paying to my surroundings, so when I came across you, I was really surprised!
Shizuru
Right. Because of my guild work, I'm going to have to travel all around the country.
Shizuru
I thought it would be much more convenient to ride a horse, so I'm in the middle of learning now.
Shizuru
Traveling long distances by foot is really difficult, after all.
Shizuru
I'm not working with many other people, so... Renting a horse would be cheaper than hiring an entire carriage, don't you think?
Shizuru
If it's okay with you, then... How about I bring you back home on a horse?
Shizuru
I've already rented this horse for an entire month, so I can take you back!
Shizuru
I've been improving a lot lately, so even mountain trails should pose no problem!
Shizuru
Don't be thankful -- get on, get on!
Shizuru
Mm-hmm, right there...
Shizuru
Hold onto me tight. If you were to fall off, you'd be hurt pretty badly.
Shizuru
There, there, hold me even more firmly...
Shizuru
Then, let's go! We're off!
A light shines.
Shizuru
Huh...? Something's shining again!?
Shizuru
It's so bright! This is bad -- the horse is being startled by this light!
Scene: A dream. A mall in Japan.
Shizuru
Hee hee. I'm so happy -- it's sibling shopping time!
Shizuru
To think that I woke up super early to wake you up...
Shizuru
And you had already gotten yourself all ready on your own. I felt a little bit sad.
Shizuru
Tch! Your big sister clearly wanted to wake you up, didn't you know?
Shizuru
You've already grown up into a man, huh?
Shizuru
I'm happy for you, but I also feel a bit sad. Even if I weren't here anymore, you'd get along just wonderfully...
Shizuru
I feel like my job is done now, like you don't need a big sister anymore...
Shizuru
Eh? It's not like that? You still need me?
Shizuru
That's right, huh? Ah, you're such an honest person! Let's be together forever!
Shizuru
... Oh, my. We can't make a fuss inside of a store.
Shizuru
Do you want me to hold any of those bags? I might have gotten too excited and bought too many things. It's heavy, isn't it?
Shizuru
You're all right? I see, you're pretty strong... You're a boy, after all.
Shizuru
Well, then, I'll place my confidence in this strong and grown-up you, and I'll buy some even heavier things, okay?
Shizuru
I want to get some dining and cooking utensils, so let's go look in the store over there!
Shizuru
Hmm? You broke a teacup earlier?
Shizuru
Then, let's buy a new one now.
Shizuru
Your big sister will pick out a nice one for you!
Shizuru
You've always liked blue, right?
Shizuru
Then, how about this one? Or this one with the game character illustration on it?
Yuuki
1. "Anything's fine with me."
2. "I can pick one for myself, so don't worry about it."
Option 1.
Shizuru
Ehh? You're indifferent as always, huh?
Shizuru
No, that's not it! This means that you have complete confidence in your big sister's sense for these things!
Shizuru
Then... I'll have to get serious about choosing one. Hmm, how about this?
Shizuru
No, when I think about the size of your hand, maybe this one...? Hmmmmm...?
Option 2.
Shizuru
Huh? You're going to be the one using it, so you want to pick it yourself?
Shizuru
How cheeky! Even more, considering that you're super indecisive, too. I've always been picking out things for you.
End of branches.
Shizuru
... Ha ha. Hey, look around. This section looks like it's full of newlywed couples.
Shizuru
They're lovingly picking out utensils with each other... I wonder if we give off that feeling, too.
Shizuru
I imagine that, soon enough... You'll be coming to places like these with your future wife, and shopping together.
Shizuru
You'll pick out a matching set of teacups.
Shizuru
It'll be fine. I know you'll definitely find someone wonderful.
Shizuru
Because after all, you're my little brother, my pride and joy!
Shizuru
Ah, it feels like just yesterday, when we were still little...
Shizuru
Whenever I think of the fact that you'll grow up one day, I feel such an ache in my heart...
Shizuru
Because, after that, we won't be able to see each other like this anymore.
Shizuru
It's not something that can be changed, but... I still feel sad about it.
Shizuru
But it's okay! Don't worry! There's nothing to feel so sad about!
Shizuru
Because no matter how far apart we are, my love for you will never fade.
End of dream.
Ames
All right, good work.
Ames
I've thought for a long time that you two get along well.
Ames
Even blood-related siblings don't stick to each other that closely after they hit puberty.
Ames
I do think that there's something more going on.
Ames
Even though Shizuru isn't going to let go of her "big sister" role...
Ames
Is that really all there is to it? Or maybe... Could she be holding onto some other feelings?
Ames
Perhaps she hasn't figured it out for herself, either...
Ames
Well, what do you think? Do you really just see Shizuru as your big sister?
Ames
It's all right. I'm not here to dictate your life.
Ames
But if you only think of the present, then you may well end up in a most terrible situation.
Ames
Ah. But maybe this isn't the right time. If you don't wake up soon, you might get badly hurt falling off the horse...
Ames
So, hurry and wake up.
Ames
And when you do... Make sure to give your dearest big sister a big hug.
End of Ames conversation.
Shizuru
Oh, oh? You've woken up? What a relief!
Shizuru
Honestly, passing out all of a sudden like that, you really gave me a scare...
Shizuru
It's good that we weren't riding fast at that point, so that even if you had fallen, you wouldn't have been hurt too badly.
Shizuru
But if you were to be run over by a horse, you could die! Be careful, okay? I'm worried.
Shizuru
If this is how it is, then how about I fasten you to me with a rope so that you don't fall?
Shizuru
I feel like that would be a really happy situation, too...
Shizuru
W-Wah!
Shizuru
H-Huh? You shouldn't hold onto me that tightly, okay...?
Shizuru
Why, all of a sudden? You're acting like a little kid...!
Shizuru
Ah, you're holding me like this so that you don't fall off the horse... Is that right?
Shizuru
T-There's not anything else to it, right? Getting squeezed by you all of a sudden, it surprised me...
Shizuru
You're pretty strong now. No... You've grown up.
Shizuru
Hee hee. Because of your amnesia, you've forgotten about a lot of things...
Shizuru
But you'll always be same person, I think.
Shizuru
We used to go home like this together, too. When you were tired, I'd carry you home on my back...
Shizuru
It'd be tough for me to do that now, but... Please, leave it all to me.
Shizuru
No matter the time, you can always come hug me, and lean on me, and be spoiled by me...
Shizuru
That's my purpose, and I'm happy to do it.
Shizuru
I love you. My dearest, dearest, most adorable little brother...