7 Days with My Stepsister: Day 6

82 pages total consisting of:
cover x2 (with / without logo)
+ 1 character bios
+ 3 frontispiece
+ 65 main pages
+ 11 bonus content pages

[Synopsis]
When I woke up, the words that popped into my head were, "If only time would stop in this moment."
Today is the day that I get to spend with Akane, "as her lover."
And.. it is also last day that we can spend all day alone together.

It's just before 4 o'clock.
I tried wishing for a minute for the long hand of the clock to stop moving... but of course it was in vain.

Even though I get to spend the whole day with the person I love, I am feeling gloomy.
The passing of every precious second of every moment is regrettably poignant.
I once watched an anime about two people trapped alone in a space where time had stopped and they needed to find a way to escape.
I envy the characters in that anime from the bottom of my heart.
If it were me, I would never try to escape and would instead stay there with Akane forever.

Even the time thinking these things feels so wasteful.
Tomorrow evening everything will have to return to normal.

We will have to return to older sister, and younger brother.

Damn... just thinking about it makes me want to cry.

I wonder... how Akane feels about it.
While I was thinking that, she woke up.

"You can't sleep?"

Come to think of it, I've only slept about 3~4 hours.
But I guess that's only to be expected.

When I was little, I used to always wake up early on Sunday mornings.
There was no school, and I was excited just thinking about all the cool things I was going to do.
The time spent sleeping felt like such a waste.
And as the day would draw to a close, I would always think,
"I wish this day would go on forever."

Having not eaten since lunchtime yesterday, my stomach growls in hunger.
Akane said she would make me breakfast, but even that felt like a waste of precious time.

Supposedly it's sunny... outside.
I make a suggestion to Akane.
"How about we go to the convenience store?"

At this time of night, there is little chance of being seen by any of our neighbors or friends.
If they saw us, it could possibly be troublesome.
I don't really mind, but it would be Akane that takes the blame and is admonished.

I can't wait for the future... and yet I want time to stop in its tracks.

One day, I wish to tall... at least taller than Akane.
And it'd like to graduate from a good university... and earn a lot of money.
I want to live in a big house, and drive a nice car, and go driving to places on my days off.

Most importantly... I want to make Akane happy.

Our house is in a quiet part of town, which is fine, but...
Being a residential area you need to walk a bit in order to get to a convenience store or supermarket.

Normally I would find that a hassle, but under these circumstances, I am happy about it.

Walking slowly with Akane on the night street. Holding hands.
I wonder if this is what it's like... to go on a date with someone.

We exit the residential area and climb the stairs. This is a shorter way than going up the hill.

It's already starting to become light, but the moon is beautiful.
All I can hear is the distant chirping of a lone cicada.

We don't talk. Both of us have remained silent since the moment we held hands.
But we are unbelievably happy.

...And yet, that happiness, will only last until today.

For some reason, I understood that Akane must be feeling the same way as me.

Like me, she is happy, but depressed... that kind of feeling.
So... I knew I had to put it into words.
The regret I felt that time time... pushes me forth.

I have to tell her how I truly feel.
I can't stop the passage of time, so I want to cherish the here and "now."

Hearing my words, Akane smiled gently.

It was a genuine expression, not a fake smile.

I want to see more of this smile... before the day is over.