Chapter 4 – Farewell

I stayed with my father a little longer, discussing a few more things related to the situation.

After some time he went to the master bedroom, affirming that there still things related to business that he had to deal with today.

The idea that he and that goddess would share the same bed irked me to the core, but there was nothing I could do about it.

I just met her but I’m sure that she deserves better than my ‘father’.

I went to the second floor and headed immediately to Aya-nee’s room. Both of my cousins said they would be there while I was talking with father.

Entering the room I was greeted with the familiar sight of both of them entertaining themselves, Aya-nee reading a book and Megu-nee playing on a portable game.

I was used to see them like that. Even if they were doing different things and bickered sometimes, they loved to be together. And now the thought that I won’t be seeing them every day...

I felt like someone was clenching my heart.

Hold yourself together. You can’t crumble right now.

I knew that if I were to break down now it might take a long time compose myself together again.

As if they sensed that I had entered the room both of them lifted their heads at my direction.

“Ah Taka-kun, you’re back already” said Aya-nee with a smile.

“Hey Taka, already done with uncle? Let’s play Beast Hunter together! The other console is over there” said Megu-nee in a carefree manner, pointing at the bed shelf.

They greeted me like nothing was happening, completely unaware of the change on our lives that was coming.

Somehow that just made things even harder.

I must have started to show on my face that something was wrong, because right after they greeted me their faces showed worried expression.

“Is something wrong?” asked Aya-nee.

“Taka...” said Megu-nee in a concerned tone.

...Okay, no point in delaying it. Let’s get this done.

I urged them to set together on the bed, since I thought that it might be better if they received the news while seated together.

I stood in front of them and breathed deeply, trying to steel myself to deliver the news. Looking at how I was acting the both of them stayed quiet at looked with full attention at me, realizing that what I was going to say was something serious.

Okay, no sugar coating. Just rip off the band-aid.

“Aya-nee, Megu-nee, father married again and decided that I was going to live with them at the capital. I’ll leave in a couple of days”

My news caught them completely out of the blue. They had their mouths agape in complete shock.

After a few seconds of complete silence...

“Taka-kun is leaving?!”

“That idiot! How dare he take Taka away from us!”

...and then they finally snapped.

“Aya-nee, Megu-nee, please calm down”

Hearing me still talking in a relatively lower tone caught their attention, probably curious of why I wasn’t reacting more like them.

“But Taka, this is...” started Megu-nee.

“Please don’t make fuss Megu-nee. We know that once father decide something there’s no way to change his mind”

“Taka-kun, how can you be so calm about this? Don’t you feel it’s unfair?” asked Aya-nee.

“Of course I think it’s unfair! But I can’t do anything about it, can I?!” I finally snapped.

I felt tears starting to fall from my eyes, as I couldn’t hold back my sadness anymore. I looked to the ground, trying to hide the fact that I started to cry.

I didn’t wanted to leave them.

I couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing my cousins everyday.

I don’t know when but at some point I felt myself being embraced. I instinctively knew that Aya-nee and Megu-nee were holding me, so I moved myself in a way that I could hold them with me as well.

A few seconds later I heard their voices sobbing, making me realize that they were crying as well.

We stayed holding each other for an unknown amount of time, trying console ourselves about what was going to happen.

Finally we separated from each other. I could still see remnants of tears on their faces. Aya-nee had a crestfallen expression and Megu-nee was still sniffing.

“Taka really needs *sniff* to go?” asked Megu-nee.

“I think so Megu. Uncle doesn’t change his mind when he decides something” said Aya-nee.

Hearing her answer Megu couldn’t do nothing but look at the ground in sadness. Aya-nee wasn’t much better, looking completely lost.

“But, but it’s not like we’re never see each other again.” I said, trying to improve the situation a little.

“...Yeah, you’re right Taka-kun. We’ll visit each other as much as we can” said said Aya-nee, looking a little better.

“Yes, yes, we’ll visit Taka-kun a lot. A-and we still have a few days together. Let’s enjoy it as much as we can” said Megu-nee.

I could see that they still were sad but were trying their best to see the bright side of the situation, as small as it can be.

Their attitude warmed my heart. They were right.

We needed to enjoy this few days together as much as possible.

*

We were departing for the capital today.

I spend the last two days as much as possible with my cousins, trying to make the most of the remaining time we had together.

Once I had calmed down a little I thought that I should try to make sure that there was nothing wrong between my cousins and my new family, but that wasn’t necessary. Both of my cousins were intelligent enough to don’t blame Yuria and her daughters for what was happening.

The blame lied entirely on my father.

While the rest of my family was making the final preparations on the car for the drive to the airport, I was at the entrance of the house with my cousins saying my good byes to them.

“Make sure to behave yourself Taka-kun. Be a good brother to Anna-chan and Rina-chan, okay?” said Aya-nee.

“I-I will”

My cousins interacted with my new family quite often over the last days, and surprisingly they got along very well with them.

“Call us as soon as you arrive, okay? Don’t forget you promised to visit us, okay?” said Megu-nee in a slightly pleading tone.

“I will. And don’t forget to visit me too, okay?”

“Hum” nodded Megu-nee.

I had discussed with my father about this. He said that, as long our grades didn’t dropped, we were allowed to visit each other. I could even come to spend a few weeks with them during vacation if I reached a certain point with my grades.

“Takashi, we are leaving”

By the sound of my father voice he was getting impatient. I hugged them one last time and went to the car. Before entering the car I waved at them one last time and they waved back.

As the car started to move I looked one last time at the house and my cousins were there, still waving at me.

I continued to look at them wave at me as the car took distance, until it turned a corner and I couldn’t see them anymore.

‘Farewell’