The morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting long shadows across the living room. Miho had left for work, and for the first time, I found myself alone in the house.

My stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since last night. But there was nothing to eat, our weekend was too busy for Miho to find the time to go grocery shopping, so she decided to leave that task to me…

I held my phone in my hand, still not used to its size, and I looked at the message Miho sent me.

[Kaede-chan, I’m heading off to work. I’ll leave some money for groceries on the kitchen counter, so please take care of that for me. If you need anything, just text me, okay? *Love*]

Followed by a message containing the grocery store’s address.

To which I responded with: [OK.]

No, I can't give in to hunger. I gotta tough it out. At least until Miho’s back home!

I shook my head vigorously.

“What am I thinking?” I said to myself, as I bonked myself in the head.

“That wouldn’t be right. I can’t ask her to do the shopping for me right after she gets back from work… That’d be ungrateful,” I tried to convince myself.

“But I really don’t wanna go to the grocery store…”

For the next few hours, I tried ignoring my guilt by busying myself with games and manga.

However, as the clock ticked on, my sense of guilt only grew stronger.

“I can’t just expect Miho to do everything for me,” I muttered to myself.

I reluctantly grabbed Miho's handwritten shopping list and a purse containing the grocery money. My hands trembled as I prepared to venture into the outside world on my own for the first time in more than a year.

I opened the front door. “Okay, I got this,” I said under my breath, trying to calm my own nerves.

The door closed behind me, and I felt the cool breeze on my face. It was a beautiful day outside, but my anxiety began to build as I took the first steps down the path.

When I finally made it to the grocery store, I could see the bustling activity through the glass doors. People were going about their business, and it all seemed so normal. But for me, it was a daunting task.

I looked at the entrance from a distance, my heart pounding in my chest. My palms were sweaty, and my throat felt dry. I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over me.

I hesitated, observing the store, waiting for a moment when it wouldn't be too crowded. I leaned against a nearby wall, my legs feeling weak. Every passing second felt like an eternity as I anxiously watched for the right time to enter.

Finally, I saw a decline in the crowd, a brief respite from the constant flow of people. It wasn't an empty store by any means, but it seemed like a manageable moment to step inside. Gathering all my courage, I pushed myself off the wall and took a deep breath.

"Here goes nothing," I whispered to myself.

With shaky steps, I entered the store, trying my best to blend in with the other shoppers. The shopping list and purse felt like anchors in my hands.

This isn’t so bad!

As I moved through the aisles, I focused on finding the items on Miho's shopping list. It was nerve-wracking, but I was managing. That is, until an employee, a friendly-looking man, approached me with a warm smile.

"Hi there, young lady! Do you need any help finding something?"

My heart leaped into my throat, and I felt panic seize me. My mind raced, and I couldn't find the right words. "I, uh, no, I mean, I'm fine, I think. I-I can find it myself. Sorry, sorry," I stammered, my voice trembling.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I had no idea why I was reacting so strongly to a simple question. The employee's concerned expression only made it worse.

I was on the verge of crying.

 Then, a familiar voice came to my rescue.

"Ah sorry~  This girl is just a bit shy."

I spun around, my heart skipping a beat in astonishment as Hana came into view. She looked vastly different from our last encounter, yet her unmistakable presence left no room for doubt: this was undoubtedly Hana.

Hana-chan?

The employee's concern faded as he smiled and nodded. "Ah, I see. Sorry for scaring you, young lady.”

I shook my head, implying he had nothing to worry about, and I turned back to face Hana, my eyes welling up with gratitude.

Without hesitation, I rushed toward her and wrapped my arms around her in a tight hug.

"Thanks,” I mumbled.

Hana returned the hug, patting my head gently.

"No worries, Kaede-chan,” she grinned.

Feeling a sense of relief, I finally let go and gave Hana a watery smile.

Hana grinned back. "Wanna continue shopping together?"

“You're shopping too? Or did Miho tell you to come because she was worried about me?" I asked.

Hana laughed. "Nope, I’m just doing some shopping of my own.”

So that was a coincidence? Talk about nice timing…

I couldn't help but admire Hana's laid-back attitude. "You seem so confident, Hana-chan. I wish I had your confidence."

Hana beamed a warm smile. "Hey, you did great today, Kaede-chan! Going shopping alone is a big step. I'm proud of you!”

“Really?” I asked, seeking reassurance.

Hana responded with a nod. “Yeah, and I’m sure Miho would feel the same way!”

I smiled, happy to hear that I was slowly becoming a better version of myself.

"So you think I can become more like you and Miho?"

“Of course you can! You’re her sister, after all. And I'll be here to help you as well!”

Blushing at her words, I replied, "Thanks, Hana-chan.”

“Ahh, right, let’s exchange numbers! Then you can call me whenever you need help.”

I nodded as I handed Hana my phone. She quickly entered her number, sending herself a message.

[Hi~]

She returned my phone, and we resumed shopping.

Observing Hana as she shopped, I couldn't help but smile at how different she seemed from the last time I saw her. She dressed more casually and carried herself with a newfound seriousness and maturity. It was as if I were seeing a different side of Hana, one that oddly suited her. It also put me at ease; the usual Hana-chan made me feel at risk of being forced into a cat costume...

As we approached the checkout counter, I couldn't help but notice the number of bags Hana was carrying. "Wow, Hana-chan, you bought so much! You livin’ with a boyfriend?"

“A boyfriend?” Hana burst into laughter, her cheerful demeanor infectious.

"Nope, I live with my little sister. I think she’s about your age."

I was intrigued. "You have a little sister? I didn’t expect that…”

Though today explained a lot.

Hana grinned. "Maybe you'll get to meet her someday!"

After leaving the store, Hana and I strolled back home together. The fading sun cast a warm, golden hue over our path, and the tranquility of the neighborhood allowed our conversation to flow effortlessly.

It turned out that Hana lived just two streets away from my house, so she offered to walk me all the way home.

When we reached my doorstep, I turned to Hana with a grateful smile.

"Thank you so much for today, Hana-chan.”

She returned my smile with a reassuring one of her own.

"Don’t worry about it, Kaede-chan. Just call me if you ever need help or just want to hang out!”

I responded with an enthusiastic nod.

Hana waved as she began to head back to her own home. "Take care, Kaede. See you soon!"

"Bye-bye, Hana-chan!"

I watched her go until she disappeared from view, feeling a sense of accomplishment and newfound friendship.

With a contented sigh, I entered my house, grateful for the day's experiences and the encouraging presence of Hana.