588 Sister, don’t be afraid (2/2)

”Nothing…” Karen averted her gaze.

”Liar! Anyone can see that something is off about you.” Kaho glared at her older sister. ”Mom and dad are both really worried about you. You shouldn't hide your problems from us.”

”I'm really fine…”

”Stop lying to my face! Go to the hospital if you have a problem with your body, or say it out loud if you have a problem in your heart. It's so unseemly to see you being roundabout like this!”

”…Do you have the right to lecture me on this?”

Kaho's face instantly went bright red when she heard this.

Karen realized that she was a bit too harsh with her words, so she lowered her head. ”I'm sorry…”

Kaho only felt even more angered to see her older sister lowering her head and apologizing.

”If you think that I don't have any right to lecture you, then stop acting stupid like this!!” Kaho spoke in a vicious tone.

Although she impulsively wanted to leave right now, she was unable to move her body when she saw how pitiful Karen seemed.

Both sisters fell silent for a while.

Kaho felt quite complex inside as she thought about how Karen was always so gentle and considerate to her. She forced herself to tolerate the feeling of frustration she had and did her best to calm down before she spoke again.

”Sister… It's quite obvious that something's off about you right now. Even your smiles contain the traces of shadows. It's evident that you're hiding something. Even an idiot like me can tell. So, of course, mom, dad, and all your friends can see all this as well. They're all quite worried about you… as long as you tell us, no matter what it is, we'll help you with it. But if you don't talk about it, and make them keep worrying, this… won't this be exactly like me in the past!?”

Just shutting herself in and only caring about her own feelings, without caring about other people's concern, covering her ears and resisting against everyone's good intentions… this was truly unseemly!

Kaho knew that she was once such an unseemly girl. If it wasn't for meeting that person, perhaps she would probably still be like that.

No… even now, some remnants of her past unseemliness still remained within her.

That was why she didn't want to see her older sister become like her!

”I'm begging you, Sister… Indeed, I don't have the right to lecture you. But, I truly don't wish to see you become like me.” Kaho's eyes moistened as she looked directly at Karen. ”Tell us if there's anything bothering you! Don't shoulder the burden all by yourself! So many people want to help you because you're Karen Miyamoto!”

'You're a beautiful, kind, and gentle girl that all our family and friends love.

'You're someone who can ask for help! So many people will offer assistance the moment that you speak up. That's why you shouldn't shut yourself in and handle everything by yourself.'

”I want to help you as well, even if I don't have the right to, even if I might not be of any help at all. I still want to help you, because you've always… always…”

'Because you've never given up on an idiot sister like me.'

”Kaho…”

Tears started streaking down Karen's face when she received her younger sister's heartfelt feelings and saw that Kaho was already beginning to cry.

”I'm sorry…” Karen went over to and hugged her younger sister.

Kaho hugged her sister back. ”Don't apologize…”

This wasn't anything to apologize for.

The sisters hugged and felt each other's warmth, transmitting their feelings to each other.

Both slowly let go after silently hugging for a while.

Karen wiped away her tears as she started smiling while looking directly at Kaho.

Kaho also wiped her tears as she awkwardly averted her gaze.

”What exactly happened to you?” Kaho asked once again after calming down.

”I… think I saw a demon.”

”A demon?”

”Yeah… Two days ago, during my fever, I saw some hazy, scary scenes…” Karen's expression darkened as she slowly began describing what she witnessed.

At first, she thought it was only a nightmare. Yet, she could still see the demon after her fever was gone.

It was a colorful, hazy, frighteningly tremendous monster that stared at her with blood-red eyes…

There was nothing wrong with her body anymore. However, she felt a deep chill coming from somewhere within her that spread through her body as if her soul was being invaded.

”I'm so scared, Kaho… I don't know if this is real or not… if something's wrong with my mind, or if a demon has really possessed me… I'm afraid…” Karen finally revealed the fear in her heart to her younger sister.

”No need to be afraid, Sister.” Kaho tried to reassure her. ”I have a friend who's a Spiritual Ability user. He'll definitely be able to help you!”