nebulancer | Yayoi Haru's Speech

Yayoi Haru's Speech - "A Small Medal"

“Hyakunen Aoharu. Yayoi Haru’s Speech: A Small Medal.

Hello there. I'm Yayoi Haru.

The theme this time discusses 'Adults' Speeches,' so they said I can talk about whatever I'd like. But if I'm told that I can talk about whatever I want, I’m the type to get lost, instead going, 'Where should I start?' 'That's a good idea.' 'This is a good idea, too.'

Can you tell? *chuckles* I'm already lost.

Whatever should I get talking about~?

There aren't many chances for me to experience this luxury of having all this time to talk, so it gets me a little excited.

Hmm. Ah, how about this? The thing that Kai and I were chatting about recently.

The other day, when we were doing a photoshoot, Kai pointed out a small scar on the back of my hand. I'd only just remembered it, so it was that small.

It was around 2cm, but you wouldn't find it unless you looked really, really closely, I suppose?

The scar was a straight, thin line.

It's pretty old at this point, and it was an injury that I didn't need to go to the hospital to get it stitched up for, and it healed normally with just a large bandage. But that particular spot of skin had healed up lighter, so even now, it's faintly there.

I guess that moment shook me up a little, so maybe that's why it's still there?

Fortunately, it doesn't stand out very much, so I'm not very concerned about it.

After all, it's a medal that proved I had protected my little sister.

I have two younger sisters, which makes me the oldest brother of three siblings.

I’ve been pretty nonchalant and loose ever since my childhood, but my younger sisters are relatively brisk and efficient... I suppose you could say that they have strong, unbending wills.

I get the feeling they were more rambunctious than I was, which caused them to get in trouble with my mother often.

They’d wander the secret bases they made in the park, playing hide-and-seek. They’d climb onto our neighbors’ persimmon trees, break a branch, and fall to the ground. They once got back at a bully, an older boy, made him cry, and had to go apologize to him...

If I keep exposing them for more things, whether it’s this or that, they’ll get upset at me. I’m holding back on the excessive amounts of stories I have to tell, but you at least understand those are the type of girls they were.

I’ve been a bit of a... sister freak for some time now, so...

...Ah—

D-don’t tilt your head and go, “A bit?”

It’s a bit! Just a bit.

Anyway, I thought my two energetic little sisters were very adorable. I suppose it’s because we’re rather apart in age.

I didn’t think that they’d steal my parents away from me, and I recall my father and mother gushing about them to me about how cute they were... nearly every day, it seemed. I feel like I might’ve been sucked in too, but... *chuckles*

Fundamentally, our home has always been quite peaceful.

One day, something happened.

When my little sisters were playing house, I realized that the younger one brought out my dad’s shaver from the bathroom, which he used to shave his beard.

It seems she’d thought to use that as a replacement for my mother’s kitchen utensil for cooking... It’s called a peeler, correct?

True, they’re shaped quite similarly, aren’t they?

And so she moved it in a way to try shaving a rock. I, who thought it was dangerous, requested my little sister to give it to me.

My sister, who seemingly thought I’d take it from her forever, reacted as if protesting me. She swung the shaver around.

Her hand approached the face of my older younger sister, who was next to her.

Even now, I want to praise myself for being able to move on the spur of the moment.

Er, seriously, I was moving without a second thought.

I hugged my sister’s face, and the shaver hit the back of my hand... and I don’t suppose I need to say the rest, do I?

Shavers are sharp and cut extremely well, so a good deal of blood poured out despite the small size of the wound.

Both my little sisters bawled their eyes out!

Maybe it was because it had cut so cleanly, or because my sisters were so panicked, that I remained calm despite being the one affected. I ran to call my mother over.

My mother screamed, “Gyahh!” I think that screaming, “Gyah!” was a little too much, but... My mother was surprised, too, after all. I’m sorry.

I don’t suppose my younger sisters remember it now, and I prefer it that way.

Still, even now, this scar helps clearly remind me that I managed to protect them. It’s the medal of me being their big brother.

I’m glad I was someone capable of protecting those I hold dear in the moment. It’s a small, small medal that even I can pride myself on.

Well, I’d just about forgotten about it until Kai pointed it out... *chuckles*

I digress here, but at a later date, I talked about it with my partner.

It seems he had noticed the existence of my scar for quite some time already. His expression upon hearing the story was one of satisfied understanding.

Even though he could’ve asked anytime if he were curious~

I received a few gentle pats from him, so it’s a medal that’s become officially recognized by the King! Incredible, isn’t it?

From now on, I hope I can continue being someone who can protect others.

My medal is sparkling again today!”