Chapter 4 | Sisters 

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“Onii-chan, I want you to make a tunnel again!”

“Alright, leave it to me.”

After school, I was playing with Karin, getting my clothes and hands dirty with sand as I did yesterday.

Karin was as cheerful as ever with her innocent smile. And that smile was contagious, healing me once again.

This time, unlike yesterday, Kotomi was watching us from a bench.

Being a girl and being watched by the angel, I was slightly nervous.

But once I got absorbed in playing, I didn’t care about it anymore.

“Ahaha, amazing! Thank you!”

When I made a tunnel, Karin would squeal and jump with joy.

It was worth making when I could make her so happy.

(This is healing…)

“Fufu, you seem to be having more fun than when you’re playing with me.”

Kotomi said that and gave us a warm smile.

It was the usual angelic smile, but because her little sister was there, it lacked that fabricated feeling.

That’s why it was even more dazzling to me. It was a smile that made me understand why she was so popular.

Even I was tired after playing for so long, so I sat down next to Kotomi with some distance between us.

Karin’s stamina seemed to be endless as she played with the sandcastle she had made.

“Your little sister is energetic.”

“Yes, but she’s always playing alone at home, and she seems a little lonely. I don’t know what Karin would enjoy, so I can’t play with her. I just watch her like this… But I’m happy that Karin is smiling so much now.”

It seemed that she was a little bad at playing with children.

Since we’re all human, I think we all have things that we’re bad at, but it’s hard to imagine what the angel would be bad at.

Kotomi smiled sadly.

“It’s important to think about the other person, but why don’t you try enjoying it first?”

“Enjoying it myself…?”

“We respond to the children’s requests and enjoy them. That might make them smile, you know. We don’t have to force ourselves to do anything.”

“Maybe… you’re right.”

Kotomi looked at Karin.

Even though we didn’t have much contact, I could immediately tell that Kotomi cared about her little sister.

If she had that thought, it would eventually be conveyed to Karin.

“Well, who am I to say that.”

“No, no, thank you again for today, as well as yesterday.”

“Then, I’ll go play some more.”

I stood up and was about to go to Karin when Kotomi grabbed my wrist and stopped me.

“I’m sorry, but could you show me your hand for a moment?”

“Huh? Sure, but…”

I turned my palm upward.

Then, I noticed that a thorn was stuck in my index finger, and a very small amount of blood was coming out.

It must have gotten stuck somewhere while I was playing.

I didn’t notice it until Kotomi told me.

It wasn’t that bad of an injury.

“Ah, it’s nothing, it’s totally fine.”

“No, if you leave it alone, bacteria might get into the wound. Please keep your hand like that for a bit.”

Kotomi took out a pouch from her bag.

Inside, there were antiseptic solution and bandages.

I couldn’t help but wonder how well-prepared she was.

However, it might be natural considering she was thinking of going to play with her sister.

Children are prone to falling, so those things would be useful.

Kotomi touched my hand with her slender finger.

(She has delicate hands, and they’re a little cold.)

The season was heading toward the middle of winter. The temperature was lower than usual today.

Since I was playing, I wasn’t feeling that cold.

However, Kotomi had been sitting down, so she must have been cold even if she was dressed warmly.

I was definitely a little careless.

I thought about that while getting treatment from Kotomi.

“Okay, that’s all done.”

“Hm, thank you… but are you cold? Your fingers are cold. Don’t you have a hand warmer or something?”

“I don’t have a hand warmer. I didn’t think it would be this cold.”

The only hand warmer we had was the one I was currently using.

To be honest, I wasn’t feeling that cold, so I placed it in Kotomi’s palm.

“If you want, you can use mine. You’re cold, right?”

“Ah… yes, thank you.”

I went to Karin and resumed playing.

“Thank you for today.”

“Thank you, Onii-chan!”

Kotomi and Karin were holding hands and looking at me.

Looking at them, I thought that the sisters were alike after all.

If Kotomi was a beautiful angel, then Karin was a cute angel, still childish with overflowing innocence.

I wondered if Karin would become like Kotomi when she grew up.

“You two sisters are alike.”

“Yeah! Karin and big sister are alike!”

Perhaps it was because she had played so much, but Karin was in a good mood and said that in a voice that didn’t show any signs of fatigue.

At that sight, the angel’s expression softened.

“Fufu, cute.”

Unlike the usual beautiful angel, there was a still somewhat childish and cute smile.

(They really are similar as sisters.)

“Would you mind being Karin’s playmate again?”

“Yeah, contact me anytime you want to play. See ya later, bye-bye.”

“Bye-bye!”

“Goodbye.”

I headed home with lighter steps than usual.

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