Minami no Hanashi : Yume - Prelude

Outside

Minami and Narumi had been out for over an hour. It was clear that their reconciliation was already complete. Narumi might not have realized it, but her enthusiasm and extroversion made things much easier. Their outing was largely driven by Narumi; although the situation had been resolved by Minami, she enjoyed listening to her little sister’s stories in silence.

As they walked, a thought crossed Narumi’s mind: Maybe I’m talking too much? This moment of hesitation caused her to pause for a moment. Minami noticed and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Narumi lowered her eyes and replied, “No, it’s just that I remembered you don’t like listening to my stories…”

After a brief silence, Minami responded, “Argh… It’s true that I said that… But, uh—” she struggled to find the right words and scratched her head.

Narumi was disappointed: “It’s okay, you don’t need to force yourself…”

-(Minami) It’s true I said that, but I was frustrated.

-(Narumi) What do you mean?

Minami looked up at the sky in silence while Narumi stared at her: “What’s with you all of a sudden?”

-(Minami) It’s not that I don’t like listening to your stories, but hearing stories about you having fun with your friends frustrates me.

Narumi was intrigued and quickened her pace to block Minami’s path.

-(Narumi) Why? she asked, curious.

Minami didn’t really look her sister in the eye, and Narumi circled around her, smiling, trying to catch her gaze. Suddenly, Minami got closer to Narumi’s face and responded firmly: “It’s because we were fighting.”

-(Narumi) Oh? Were you jealous? she asked teasingly.

A brief silence ensued, and Narumi interpreted it as a positive response. She danced around Minami, exclaiming joyfully, “She’s jealous! She’s jealous! She loves me too much!”

Minami, looking unimpressed, replied, “Stop, it’s embarrassing.”

Narumi stopped and asked, “But were you really jealous?”

-(Minami) I don’t think it was jealousy; I was just frustrated. Hearing my little sister being super happy with other people hurt deep inside.

Overcome with guilt, she lowered her gaze and spoke more softly: “Especially since we were on bad terms…”

Narumi sensed that her sister was opening up, so she stayed quiet, hoping Minami would continue.

-(Minami) I’ve been having weird dreams lately, this morning…

Minami seemed hesitant. Narumi took her sleeve and asked, “What’s wrong? Why were you crying?”

Minami had completely forgotten about her morning tears: “Oh right, that happened,” she said with a neutral expression.

-(Minami) Well, I’ll tell you another day!

Narumi, disappointed, complained: “What?! Nooo! Come on, pleease~!” she insisted, begging.

Minami looked at her seriously and asked, “Tell me, what’s going on with Mom?”

She immediately replied, angry: “I had a fight with her. She said horrible things to me for no reason!”

-(Minami) Horrible things? Mom?

Narumi chose to stay silent, finding it too embarrassing to explain to Minami, who noticed and continued, “Well, the most important thing is to make up.”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

-(Narumi) Yeah… she said, lowering her eyes.

-(Minami) What’s wrong?

-(Narumi) I’ve never had a fight like this with Mom; I don’t really know how to make up with her.

Minami thought for a moment and then declared: “Hm… I don’t think Mom will be too difficult.”

-(Minami) You should just say ‘I love you’ and give her a hug. That should do it.

-(Narumi) No way, that’s way too embarras—

Narumi froze, recalling her argument with Azumi. Minami continued with a smile that carried a hint of sadness: “Yeah, I knew you’d say that…”

She felt that Minami was disappointed.

-(Minami) But you know, I don’t find it embarrassing at all if it’s with you two.

I feel like I’m the problem… Narumi thought.

-(Minami) But I won’t force you; we’ll find another way, though I think that’s the most effective one, she said, thinking.

Silence.

-(Narumi) Yeah, I’ll do it, she said, determined.

-(Minami) Really?!

-(Narumi) Yeah.

Minami took her hand and continued: “Come on, let’s go!”

-(Narumi) What, now?!

-(Minami) Yeah.

An hour later at the Katayama house

Minami and Narumi returned home. As soon as they entered the house, the younger sister ran into her mother’s arms and did what they had planned. And just like that, everything was resolved.

Later that evening in Minami’s room

Minami's phone started ringing, and when she answered, it was Sanae on the line.

-(Minami) Yeah?

-(Sanae) I’ve been called to the school tomorrow, she stated dryly.

-(Minami) Huh? But tomorrow’s Sunday.

-(Sanae) Yeah, it doesn’t look good.

-(Minami) We’ll go together then. I don’t want to miss anything this time.

-(Sanae) Yeah, well, see you tomorr—

Minami cut her off immediately: I made up with Narumi.

Silence.

Sanae jumped out of bed: WHAT?! WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME SOONER?!

-(Minami) Well, I’m telling you now.

Sanae was bouncing around her room, exclaiming, Finally! We need to celebrate, it’s about time!

She suddenly stopped.

-(Minami) What’s up?

-(Sanae) Tell her to come with us tomorrow! It’ll be good for all of us.

-(Minami) Oh! That’s a great idea!

Sanae, in her excitement, was swinging around on her desk chair, spinning in the middle of her room: I know, I know~

-(Sanae) But anyway? Tell me everything!

-(Minami) Ah, where to start…

Ten minutes later

-(Sanae) So touching!! Like something out of a movie!

-(Minami) Ha-ha. See you tomorrow, Sanae, she said with a smile.

Minami glanced at her bookshelf, searching for a book to read among her many already-read ones. She stopped at one titled “I Don’t Just Dream” and started reading from the middle as if she’d chosen a page at random.

Half an hour later

Minami suddenly sat up and called Jun.

At Jun's place

-(Jun) Seriously?! You made up?

...

-(Jun) Wow… Honestly, I never told you because I didn’t want to kill the mood, but I thought it was a lost cause.

...

-(Jun) But there’s still the issue with that one troublesome friend, right? What are you going to do about that?

At Minami's place

-(Minami) It’s true they’re a bit frivolous and rowdy, but I don’t think there’s much I can do, and I don’t want to ruin everything.

Silence.

-(Jun) No, I’m talking about THAT friend…

...

-(Minami) Ah… There’s nothing to worry about, she’s probably forgotten about it by now.

-(Jun) Yeah, I suppose.

In the living room

Azumi and Shinsuke were sitting in front of the TV, but neither seemed to be paying much attention.

-(Azumi) I’m desperate, she sighed.

Shinsuke replied, as usual, calmly: I know.

Azumi rested her head on his shoulder and continued: I didn’t want to upset her because, after all, she doesn’t know yet… But on the other hand, I can’t just sit here and do nothing.

-(Shinsuke) But you know it’s going to happen, right?

-(Azumi) Yes, but is that a reason to do nothing?

-(Shinsuke) No, I agree with you.

-(Azumi) Then what are you trying to tell me?

Shinsuke answered with a smile: You already know me well enough to answer that question on your own, don’t you?

Azumi sighed: Yes… That’s true. I was just hoping for something different from you.

-(Shinsuke) Sorry to disappoint you, then.

-(Azumi) It’s not disappointment; I’m just being capricious because I’m at an impasse and waiting for someone to hand me a solution.

Shinsuke replied with a laugh: Weird feeling, isn’t it? Usually, you’re the one offering those solutions.

-(Azumi) That’s one way to put it… she said with a smile.

The next morning

Minami and Narumi had been getting ready in the bathroom for a while, and Shinsuke and Azumi had just learned about the principal’s surprise summons, and the tense mood was palpable.

-(Azumi) ...

-(Shinsuke) ...

Shinsuke spoke up: Relax, in any case, he shouldn’t do anything stupid; I think it’s really about Sanae, and you know her extravagant side.

Azumi replied with a smile: Speak for yourself; I’m not worried about Sanae, but about those two…

-(Shinsuke) You’ll have to get used to that feeling… And besides, we talked about it yesterday…

-(Azumi) Yes, yes, I know…

The two sisters came down the stairs and waved to their parents as they left.

-(Narumi) See you later!

-(Azumi) Take care of yourselves!

Narumi responded from a distance: Yeah, we’ll be back soon!

Later, in the cooking club room

The three girls stood at the entrance, with Eiji and Dai inside.

-(Eiji) What do you mean by that? The principal told us he’d informed you. You passed the test, and the cooking club is open again! he said enthusiastically.

-(Sanae) Huh?

-(Narumi) Who’s this clown?

END OF CHAPTER