A Brother's Sacrifice

"Well, I gotta go. My friends are gonna start searching for me."

"Okay."

Sakura turned her body in a full 180° and made her back face me. Now I also need to go to where Aki and Kinoshita are. Since I don't know where they both ran off, I'll simply call them and find out their whereabouts.

Ah, speaking of calling,

"Wait Sakura! Can you give me your phone number?"

"...Why?"

"Well duh. To contact you when I need something from you or vice versa."

"Oh...."

She hastily put her hand in the pocket of her pale pink skirt and pulled out a smartphone with a fancy colourful cover. It was expensive but not that quite over the top. But this was quite odd when I think about it.

'Aki's phone is not that costly as Sakura's. Is this another sign about Aki being overshadowed by her little sister?'

I knew about Aki's phone when we exchanged our number the second day of our high school days. Anyway, I also pulled out my phone which is an average one that most middle-class people use.

We exchanged our numbers and finally parted our ways. Sakura to her concerned friends and me, to my concerned puppets. My phone had Kinoshita's name on it as I was calling him. Kinoshita answered after 3 seconds of his phone ringing

"Kinoshita, where are you?"

"Ah yes, we are at the Public Foot Onsen."

"And Aki?"

"She is with me, and she has calmed down."

"Good. Wait there, I'm just coming to you."

"Okay."

I hung up my phone and started to go where the Public Foot Onsen is situated. The Public Foot Onsen is a place where many people, especially skiers who ski down the snowy mountains of Hakuba, put their feet on the hot water to relieve their fatigue.

Since their feet are always on the snow and they have to walk a long distance, this place is good to relax.

This place is even accompanied by beers and sakes that the relaxed person can drink while their feet are in the hot water. The Public Onsen is also a good place for a meeting between friends and even colleagues.

But well, I also want to dip my feet into the hot water when thinking about all of this. This encounter with Sakura just left a bad taste in my tongue.

'...Sister huh...'

Those words of mine were carried by the chilly wind, no one hearing about what I said. I continued to walk thoughtlessly in my mind.

........

Upon arriving at that place that Kinoshita mentioned on the phone, I saw the two people that I was supposed to meet.

Aki and Kinoshita were happily dipping their feet in the hot water of the Public Foot Onsen. Seeing them like this was making me feel like an outsider. I really want to put my feet in there. And I did so.

I walked at a fast pace and arrived near them, which revealed my presence to them.

"What's up Aki, calmed down?"

"...Yeah."

There was only those two who were using this place. With me, it would be three. By the way, the maximum people that could fit this Onsen is six, with 3 seats in opposite sides. I took out the shoes that I was wearing and kept them in a safe place.

Well, it's not like there are people who would steal shoes in this area, or even in the whole world, but I still left it in a place that could be seen. Aki and Kinoshita were sitting on one side while I sat on the other side.

When I put my feet in the hot water, it was quite relaxing. It was the same as when I put my feet on the chilly freshwater of the river I went before. The only difference is that the water was hot here but it had the same effect as the cold water.

"What's in this?"

Aki pointed at the plastic bag that I was carrying in my left hand. Well, it is a great time to savour this delicious cake. I brought the plastic bag in front of me and took out one of the cakes in a paper wrapping. I gave out one to Aki and Kinoshita the other.

"Thank you Kaburagi. How much was it? I can pay for it."

"Don't mind the price and just eat the cake already."

I shrugged Kinoshita's try to give me money. Aki took out the cake from the paper wrapping. Her mouth was drooling with saliva when looking at the cake.

"Don't hold back. Dig in. I heard it's really delicious."

I tempted Aki to take a bite and she wasn't able to suppress her hunger. As a result, the cake was being murdered by Aki's brutal eating. I feel pity for those cakes.

It seems like Aki has forgotten about that event at the pastry store. Then it's good, I won't have to do anything.

I took out my share and brought it in front of my mouth. Before taking a bite, Kinoshita's gaze alerted me so I peeked at him. The ends of his lip were slightly curved upward. Unless I took great attention to him, no one would've noticed his smile.

Without minding him, I couldn't resist the sweet smell that was being exuded by the cake. So like Aki, but with more manner, I started to eat it. When my teeth helped me to take a bite off the cake, the cake would slowly melt in my mouth as I chew.

The combination of eating this tasty food and having our feet in this hot water, while looking at the scenery of Hakuba, was having a great effect on us. Killing three birds with one stone, that was the situation we were in.

After having eaten the food and resting a bit, we decided that it was time to move out of the Public Foot Onsen. I didn't want to but I've no choice but to do it. I wanted to see other places.

The result of Aki eating that cake was disastrous. The cream was all over her cheeks and she herself did not notice this. Kinoshita was giving her his handkerchief to wipe the cream.

"Thanks, Kinoshita."

She wiped most of the cream off but there were some remnants.

"Give it to me."

Aki returned his handkerchief, only to be found out that it was used on her face again. But she did not seem surprised by Kinoshita's action.

"Is there still some?"

"Yeah."

They were not blushing at all. Those two are quite used to it. Are they...lovers? No that's wrong. Kinoshita looks more like a babysitter. It is fine that they have a closer and good relationship but if it will hinder me in the future,...I might break it.

Well anyway, putting the pessimistic thoughts away, we put on our shoes and decide where to go next. Since we don't really know, we kind of roamed around the area. If there were some places which would make our interest and curiosity piqued, then we'll go there.

We were wandering for quite some time, and we had been to quite some places but they were not that interesting. This was becoming boring.

"Well, what do you guys wanna do? Shopping?" I suggested to those two.

"Yeah, might as well bring some souvenirs from this boring place."

"Oi Aki, you don't ha-...Or maybe not. You are right, this place is really boring.

Kinoshita looked at us and did a long exhausted sigh to us. Probably he was being tired of us. He then smiled and informed us.

"There are shops that way. Let's go."

Kinoshita as the leader, we followed him. He was leading the way while checking on places from left to right. We also did that.

Well now that I think about it, I haven't really gifted Reika something. Well, might as well buy something for her. But I don't know what to buy. Like should I go for a necklace, a ring or something else?

Hmmm...What about a bracelet? Yes, a bracelet should be fine. But now, there is also another problem. I don't know which one I must buy. I really need help.

When I was thinking about the thing that I need to buy, we arrived in an area where there were all kinds of shops by the sides of the path we're taking.

"We are here, now lets separate and buy something."

We did as our 'leader', for now, told us to do. I went near the shop vendors and took a look at their product, but the one I'm looking for can't be seen. Not finding the one I need, I went further up the shops and found one that were selling bracelets and many other girly products.

But I don't know how to select the ones that would fit Reika. Also, I must be sure to buy the one that she would not be disappointed with. But I really need someone to help me here.

Aki would not be specialised in this kind of field so it is a no for her. If someone like Sakura was here, it would be great but I just greeted her off. My head was moving around and scanning the shop when suddenly, I took notice of someone. That person also noticed me.

"Ah."

"Ah."

"Umm, hi again?"

"Yeah...I suppose."

The one that I met eyes with, was the one person that I needed the most right now. And you probably guessed who it was. It was Sakura.