[3-Minute Short Story] The Road Home Leading to Spring | Sharin no Uta - BUMP OF CHICKEN

The night air is still cold.
Even though they say spring is near, the remnants of winter still linger in the night.

"Isn't that heavy?"

I asked my younger sister, who was carrying a large bag.
She shrugged her shoulders and smiled.

"I'm fine! This much is nothing."

She's always been like that.
When she's trying to be strong, she smiles as if she's a little embarrassed.

We head toward the station, pushing our bicycles. The residential area is quiet, and only the sound of tires rubbing against the asphalt echoes softly.

Before I knew it, my sister was already 18.
The small back that used to follow behind me with a school backpack is now walking right beside me, matching my stride.

When we reached the road along the river, the light from the streetlamps was flickering on the water's surface.

"Tokyo has so many people, doesn't it?"

My sister says.

"I guess so."

"I feel like I'm going to get overwhelmed by the crowds~"

The voice she used to say that was a mix of excitement and a little anxiety.

The lights of the station come into view. It was over faster than I thought.

My sister buys a ticket for the furthest destination, and I buy the cheapest platform ticket.

We wait for the train on the platform. The same conversation as always.

Suddenly, my sister turned toward me.

She opened her mouth as if searching for words for a moment, then took a small breath.

"Big brother."

I turned to face her when she called me.

My sister was smiling. But deep in that smile, there were tears welling up.

"Thank you."

It was a short phrase.

But I felt like all sorts of memories were packed into those words.

The day our parents were gone.
The nights we sat around the dinner table together.
The days we laughed over failed attempts at housework.

As if she were leaving it all behind.

My sister turned her back and boarded the train.
She looked back before the doors closed and gave a light wave.

That alone was enough.

I gripped the handlebars of the bicycle left behind. It's the bicycle my sister had been riding for a long time.

Rolling the tires, I slowly head back the way we came.

The night breeze had become a little warmer.
Spring is just around the corner.