Card Story: [A Bond Between Siblings] Toya Aoyagi

Part 1

Diner
1
Tsukasa
Phew...
We got more than I expected.
2
Tsukasa
But thanks to you, Toya, everything went smoothly! You have my gratitude!
3
Toya
No, I didn't do anything. All I did was carry some things for you.
4
Toya
I just hope the Doll Festival party turns out well.
5
Tsukasa
Yes, we got all the party goods Saki likes to have, so it's bound to be a great success!
6
Tsukasa
But I'm sure you're tired after all that, no?
7
Toya
Please, don't mind me. I didn't have any other plans today either so...
8
Tsukasa
...
9
Toya
Tsukasa...?
10
Tsukasa
Well, it's just that you seem to be smiling more often now.
11
Toya
I am...?
12
Tsukasa
When we were kids, I always tried my hardest to make you laugh or smile, but I guess you don't need any of that now...
13
Tsukasa
You're like a little brother to me, and next to Saki, my number two fan!
14
Tsukasa
I should thank Akito for helping you turn things around.
15
Toya
That'd be nice...
But I also have you to thank, Tsukasa.
16
Toya
As I mentioned before, you were the one that actually led me to meeting Akito in the first place.
17
Toya
And do you remember the time when we first met...?
18
Tsukasa
Hmm... Oh, it was when you came over to my house when your parents needed a sitter.
19
Toya
Yes.
20
Toya
(Our parents already knew each other from before, but I didn't and was a little scared at first...)
21
Toya
(I didn't even know that Tsukasa was learning to play the piano just like I was...)
22
Toya
(I wasn't sure about what to say if he asked me to play with him, but...)
23
Little Tsukasa
Alright, Toya!
You're gonna help me with some training!
24
Little Toya
Training...?
25
Little Tsukasa
Yes! My little sister, who's in the hospital right now, and I compete to see who can find people the fastest in these books, but she always wins...
26
Little Tsukasa
That's why I want to win next time and show her what her big brother is made of!
27
Little Toya
Umm... So you want to me to look with you?
28
Little Tsukasa
Exactly! So let's get started!
On the first page...
29
Little Tsukasa
Here...! No, that's not him...
I didn't notice the cleft chin at first...
30
Little Toya
Huh? Is it this person way off to the right...?
31
Little Tsukasa
What?! You're the main character! Why are you hiding over there?! I feel cheated for some reason...
32
Little Tsukasa
But well done, Toya!
You did great!
33
Little Toya
Huh?
Oh, hehe...
34
Toya
Although I do have older brothers, they're much older than me and were sent off to study before I even got a chance to get to know them better...
35
Toya
On top of that, I hardly ever had time to play with my friends because of piano and violin practice.
36
Toya
But after that day, I started going over to your house more and more where you even started showing me your plays.
37
Toya
You really helped keep my spirits up...
38
Tsukasa
Toya...
39
Tsukasa
There's something I need to thank you for as well.
40
Toya
There is...?
41
Tsukasa
The first time we met, I'd already gone to see Saki that day.
42
Tsukasa
We played together like always but when it came time to go home, Saki started crying all the sudden...
43
Tsukasa
She'd been in the hospital so long by then, everything she kept pent up inside just seemed to come bursting out.
44
Tsukasa
She even said, Please, don't go...
But all I could tell her was that I'd be back tomorrow and we could play again...
45
Toya
...
46
Tsukasa
The fact that I couldn't bring back Saki's smile kept bothering me so much.
47
Tsukasa
But that day, you smiled.
48
Toya
...!
49
Tsukasa
Your smile made me want to make Saki smile. It made me want to keep my promise to her.
50
Toya
I see. That's so nice.
51
Tsukasa
Also, I still ended up losing to her when we started going through those books together.
52
Tsukasa
Toya, you don't owe me anything. Just know that you've been there for me too.
53
Toya
Okay...
54
Tsukasa
It's been a long time coming, but thank you for then, Toya.
55
Toya
You're welcome.
And thank you as well...