I Won't Be a Loser

After nearly four hours of travel from Hashima by train and bus, the trio finally arrived in Hida around 5 PM—Itomori was just within reach.

"So… this is Hida?"

Although they'd heard the name from Haruto before, it was the first time either girl had actually stepped foot here. As they exited the station, Setsuna and Sekai looked around at the flat, open streets, the quaint two-story Western-style homes, and the weathered, rain-worn plaster walls that gave off an undeniable sense of age and time. The scenery was nothing like Tokyo.

Nearby stood a modest tourist information center labeled Hida City Sightseeing Information, as well as a branch of a bank with a rather unfamiliar name: Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank.

"That bank… is it local?" Sekai asked curiously, pointing to the unfamiliar name.

"Yeah. It's a regional bank in Gifu. People here usually use local banks. You don't see the big names like Mitsubishi UFJ or Mitsui here. At most, you'll spot a Japan Post Bank."

Looking out at the wide intersection in front of the station, the deep blue sky overhead, and the distant green mountains stretching endlessly into the horizon, the girls gradually began to relax. The countryside breeze carried a calmness Tokyo couldn't offer.

"Let's head to the bus stop. Not sure if we'll catch the last one—it ends pretty early here. If we miss it, we're walking back."

"That early?" Sekai blinked, stunned.

In Tokyo, buses ran until ten at night, some even operated 24/7. But here in Hida, they stopped as early as five in the evening?

"Tokyo has people—tons of people. That means steady ridership and revenue. Places like Hida are small. Most people just walk or bike. Buses aren't really needed."

Hearing Haruto's explanation, Sekai nodded, though her expression said she was still wrapping her head around it.

"Setsuna?" Haruto turned to her, catching the girl zoning out beside him.

"Huh? Ah… what is it, Haruto?"

As she came back to her senses, Setsuna's eyes wandered over the quiet town again. This was Haruto's hometown, the place he'd grown up in. Emotions stirred inside her—nostalgia, admiration, and something bittersweet.

"Nothing. You just looked lost in thought. That over there is the bus platform. Should take around thirty minutes. If we're lucky—"

A sudden rumble of an engine cut him off. A bus appeared in the distance, rolling toward them.

"Oh—perfect timing. Let's go," Haruto said, leading the way.

The girls hadn't expected to catch it right away, but they rushed after him, dragging their suitcases behind them.

Haruto paid the fare for all three, then moved toward the back of the bus. It was an older model, a bit worn, but it had character.

Sekai and Setsuna sat down on either side of Haruto, quietly taking in the interior. The driver, seeing no other passengers, shut the door and pulled out of the station.

"So this really is Hida…" Sekai murmured, eyes on the passing scenery. The buildings, signs, and air all felt like relics from another time—like something from a nostalgic drama she'd seen on TV.

"It's completely different from Tokyo."

Setsuna nodded. "You used to live in a place like this?"

She watched the scenery roll past, deeply aware now of the contrast between this sleepy countryside and the vibrant chaos of the city. For the first time, she could truly feel the weight of Haruto's decision—to leave this place and go to Tokyo alone. That took courage.

Leaving behind everything familiar and stepping into the unknown—it wasn't something just anyone could do.

Setsuna turned her head slightly, glancing at Haruto beside her. She was about to ask what made him leave Itomori when her eyes met Sekai's across the aisle. The words died in her throat. Instead, she lowered her gaze and said nothing.

After hours on buses and trains from Hashima to Hida, both girls were utterly drained. As the bus rumbled along the uneven countryside roads, they fell silent and, before long, their heads gently rested on Haruto's shoulders—one on each side.

"Forty minutes… can't believe it took this long. The sun's already setting," Haruto muttered as he looked out the window at the fading sunlight.

Glancing to either side, he saw the exhaustion painted on the girls' faces. The energy they had in the morning was long gone.

"Hey, Haruto… there's no more buses after this, right?" Sekai asked, dragging her suitcase up beside him, her voice tentative. "Because I really don't think I can handle another ride. I think I might actually get motion sickness…"

The road from Hida had been a bit rough. Not bad enough to complain about—but still jarring.

"Haruto… I need to use the bathroom…" Setsuna whispered, voice tight, face pale. She clutched her suitcase with both hands, clearly trying to hold it in.

"Sorry, there's no public restroom around here. If you want to go, you'll have to wait until we get to my house. It's up this road—see that house halfway up the hill? That's it."

Setsuna followed his pointing finger and saw the traditional wooden home nestled in the distance. It felt impossibly far away.

She took a deep breath and tightened her grip on the suitcase handle. She would endure it.

"…You okay, Setsuna?" Sekai asked, suddenly looking worried. Her own expression turned grim, and she too began to shift uncomfortably.

"I'm fine. Let's go!"

Setsuna lowered her head and broke into a silent march—this was a desperate dash to salvation.

—

"Ugh… why aren't they home yet? Didn't they say they were leaving this morning?" Mitsuha poked at the peach slices in the fruit bowl, visibly annoyed.

Yotsuha, watching from the side, grabbed the mosquito swatter and swung it at her sister's hand—Mitsuha withdrew just in time.

"If you're that worried, why don't you just go check?"

"I've checked like five times since afternoon. Still nothing. What could they be doing? There's not even anything to shop for here…"

Hida wasn't exactly a tourist hotspot. The only mildly exciting thing nearby was its proximity to Nagoya—about a two- or three-hour trip.

"Don't tell me they went to Nagoya?"

"Brother's not like you," Yotsuha said dryly, side-eyeing her sister.

"Ugh… they're so late." Mitsuha collapsed onto the floor, feeling the cool wooden boards beneath her. She gazed toward her mother's room, wondering if she should ask if Haruto had called.

But something stopped her. Asking would make it seem like she cared—way more than she wanted to admit.

"…Last time we came back from Tokyo, it didn't take this long."

"That's 'cause Dad had someone drive you from the Shinkansen station. Grandma told me. If you don't have a car, it takes four to five hours."

"…Tch."

Mitsuha had no response to that. But just then, footsteps—multiple—sounded at the front door, accompanied by unfamiliar female voices.

"So this is Haruto's house? I'm kind of nervous…"

"Just treat it like your own. Your rooms should be ready. I'll show you around."

"Haruto… bathroom."

"Hold on, I'll show you."

Click.

The door opened, and then—his voice echoed through the house.

"I'm home."

That voice—so familiar, so casual—sent a jolt through Mitsuha's chest.

In the next instant, she sprang off the floor and rushed to the entrance.

"I'm home!"

By the time Yotsuha realized that her brother had returned, Mitsuha had already dashed out of the living room like an arrow loosed from a bow, rushing toward the front door to find Haruto.

Haruto had just set down his suitcase when Mitsuha appeared before him. He hadn't expected her to be the first to greet him, but he wasn't all that surprised either. He gave her a small smile before turning to the slightly flustered Sekai behind him.

"Let's leave the luggage here for now. I'll take Setsuna to the bathroom first. Do you want to come along?"

"…Yeah."

Sekai, realizing she'd be left alone with Haruto's younger sister otherwise, quickly nodded. A little flustered, she offered Mitsuha a polite smile before following him and the girl clinging to his arm—Setsuna—into the house.

Standing in the entryway, Mitsuha stared at the trio disappearing inside. She wasn't sure who that unfamiliar girl was. Haruto hadn't mentioned anyone else would be coming.

"A classmate?" she murmured.

Not really caring enough to dig deeper, Mitsuha glanced at the three suitcases left by the door—pink, blue, and black.

"The black one's probably his, right?"

She watched them for a while but didn't want to risk guessing wrong, so she left them alone and walked further inside. Near the bathroom, she spotted Haruto heading toward the living room.

"You're so late! It's practically dark outside already."

"Couldn't help it. We spent almost six hours on the road. Just getting from Hashima to Itomori took nearly five."

Standing in front of Mitsuha, Haruto reached out a hand and casually rested it on her head, taking full advantage of their height difference. Mitsuha immediately scowled and shook her head to knock his hand away, but Haruto just waited for her to stop fidgeting before patting her again.

"Quit messing up my hair! I'm trying to grow taller!"

"No worries—I don't mind."

"I do!"

"I brought you a little something."

"…What kind of something?"

Mitsuha, who was just about to get angry, hesitated when she heard that. But her suspicious gaze didn't let up. She knew her brother well enough to expect the kind of "gift" that turned out to be a stack of practice books. Until she saw it with her own eyes, she wasn't going to let her guard down.

After ruffling his sister's soft hair one last time, Haruto turned and headed toward the entryway.

"Help me carry the other two suitcases to the guest room, and I'll tell you."

"…Tch."

Mitsuha didn't really want to, but after a moment's hesitation, she reluctantly picked up the suitcases that belonged to Sekai and Setsuna and wheeled them into the prepared guest room. It had been cleaned and tidied in advance—spacious and neat.

Once the luggage was taken care of, she went to Haruto's room and found him standing there, seemingly lost in thought as he stared around.

Doesn't look like he noticed me… Mitsuha tiptoed quietly inside, her white socks making almost no sound on the floor. She crept up behind Haruto and—without warning—dug her fingers mercilessly into his sides.

"Gah—!"

Still reminiscing about the past while gazing around his old room, Haruto jerked in surprise from the sudden tickling sensation. He whirled around to see Mitsuha grinning mischievously, so he grabbed her in a bear hug and tackled her onto the bed, lifting up her shirt slightly—

"Wait—No! D-Don't—Ha! Hahaha—stop!!"

Thanks to their difference in size, Haruto easily overpowered his troublesome little sister. Then he launched his ultimate tickle attack right into her sides, causing Mitsuha's smug laughter to turn into gasping, tortured giggles as she squirmed under his grip.