On A Jog
Miyuki jumped back a bit in surprise when Seika launched herself at her, breaking out of her little reverie into the past. She could feel tears well up from the other girl’s words, but kept it back as she patted the younger girl’s head while she cried.
‘I am the older one here, after all. I can’t be seen crying in front of someone younger,' she thought, holding her tears back with a wavering smile.
“Hey, hey,” she said jokingly, trying to brighten the atmosphere. “It’s like you’re the one who just told me your depressing life story or something! What’ll bypassers think when they see you crying like this with me? ‘Oh look, that girl made her little sister cry!’ they’ll say!” She laughed, her usual cheeky smile back in place.
“I know you guys are my family now,” she said, burying her head into Seika’s hair. “That’s why I’m comfortable telling you this. I don’t want people to feel sorry for me about my past. But I feel like if it’s with you guys…” She hesitated. “I feel like it’s okay to be pampered a little. Because that’s what family is for.”
Seika sniffed as she pulled back, eyes still watery. Laughing at the joke, she smiled too. She let Miyuki rest on her head, smiling at the words.
“Mmhmm. We’ll always look out for you. You’ve had it real rough, y’know? Its… it isn’t over, but… maybe we can help you… um, feel better about things?”
Seika wasn’t entirely sure if she was making sense, but as long as her feelings got across, thats all that mattered, right?
Miyuki chuckled at Seika stammering over her words, and patted the younger girl’s head.
“I might’ve had it rough, but I have to overcome it, right? I always thought I could do it by myself, but after getting into 0048, I’ve realised that relying on others isn’t embarrassing or deprecating. Families are there to be relied on, and you guys are my family now.”
She got up and stretched. “Speaking of overcoming things…How long are we going to rest here? We gotta finish our run! Come on, Seika-chan! Overcome your lack of stamina!”
Laughing, she ran ahead, light-headed and a little giddy. It felt good telling her friend about her past, and letting it out instead of keeping it all inside herself all the time. She no longer had to suffer alone. She had 0048 now.
