Chapter 52: Is It Okay to Boast About Being Popular with Little Girls?

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Boasting about being popular with little girls isn’t something to be proud of.

Get a grip, man.

I’ve been in a situation like this before. Ange was bullied and said something similar.

“Does everyone hate Ange?”

That's right, what did I say to her back then?

“It's okay! Onii-chan loves you, Yuki-chan!!”

I said that and hugged Yuki-chan tightly.

“And you know…”

I spun her around once and set her down next to Grandma.

“Grandma loves Yuki-chan too!”

I crouched down to meet her gaze, looking up at Grandma together with Yuki-chan.

After a moment of surprise, Yuki-chan shifted her gaze from Grandma to me.

“Yeah! Yuki loves Onii-chan and grandma too!!”

She gave me a bright, innocent smile, typical of a little girl.

Yes, this is how it should be. There’s no need for kids to look so sad at such a young age.

The idea that no one loves you is simply not true.

Right, Ange?

When I looked over at Ange, she had a rather complicated expression on her face.

***

“Well, it’s about time we head out. Yuki-chan, let’s play again soon!”

“Yeah! Bye, Onii-chan! Bye, Onee-chan!”

Since then, we’ve been doing all sorts of things to keep Yuki-chan happy. But that’s fine with me. There’s nothing more heartwarming than a child’s smile.

Just like before, Yuki-chan is wildly waving her free hand at me, the one not held by her grandma.

Next to her, Grandma Kumi is bowing deeply. I can only imagine what’s going through her mind.

I suspect there’s a deep story behind it, but I can’t just pry into it. That was probably the right call.

After all, there’s not much I can do.

“Come on, we don’t have much time. Let’s go, Onii-chan.”

“Right.”

Turning back multiple times as if something was pulling me, we left the park. Yuki-chan kept waving until she was out of sight.

“Seriously, Onii-chan, you’re always a hit with little girls.”

It’s hard to tell if Ange is complimenting me or teasing me.

“Better than being disliked, right? Though it’s only little girls who like me.”

My self-deprecating comment earns an elbow jab from Ange.

“What are you talking about? Little girls are girls too.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“In fact, don’t you think that if you can’t attract little girls, you won’t attract adult women either?”

“…”

“Maybe it’s because little girls can see the real you.”

I’d never thought of it that way. So, should I go all out trying to win over little girls?

“I see… From now on, I’ll make sure to pamper any crying little girl I see.”

“Don’t do that; you’ll get arrested.”

“Why? Maybe in ten years, one of them will come back and say, ‘Please marry me!'”

Of course, I was joking. I’m not as patient as Hikaru Genji. I’d like to find a girlfriend while I’m still young and reach paradise sooner rather than later.

“Even in ten years, she’ll still be a minor.”

Ignoring my intentions, Ange wraps her arm around mine.

“What’s this all of a sudden?”

“Think of it as payback for ten years from now.”

“What does that even mean?”

I don’t need any payback from my sister, you dummy.

Well, not like I’m planning to win over any more little sisters anyway.