Chapter 99: Let’s Open a New Door

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“Their attitudes make no sense.”

I was the only one looking displeased as we entered the campus, bustling with the spring festival stalls in the courtyard.

After I declared Yuki-chan as my true love, Makata-kun’s hateful gaze turned to one of pity, and he wandered off somewhere. What’s his problem? Is it because Yuki-chan is still a little girl? I guarantee that in ten years, Yuki-chan will be as beautiful as Ange.

“Well, you know, even if it was to get through that moment, claiming a girl under five as your true love is pretty off-putting. Even I, your mother, am taken aback. I didn’t raise you to be a lolicon pedophile.”

“Shut up. If you hadn’t linked arms with me, this wouldn’t have gotten so complicated.”

Mother and son quarrel in full swing.

Does everyone only see others as objects for their desires? Just because she’s my true love doesn’t mean I have to fondle her or do other lewd things. It’s important to feel relaxed and happy together, isn’t it?

I thought about explaining this, but with Mom, Ange, Kumi-san, and Princess Yuki around, it didn’t seem necessary.

Kumi-san, for her part, didn’t even bother to question if I had such inclinations. Maybe she understands me best. Should I praise her insight or lament the fragility of family bonds?

Meanwhile, my real sister…

“I lost to a little girl… Why… I can’t understand…”

She muttered to herself, sounding like someone who just lost their reason for living, much like a hardcore player devastated by the shutdown of their favorite gacha game.

This is going to be troublesome if left alone.

“Ange.”

“What? Hmph, you prefer little girls now, right? I knew you were popular with kids, but I didn’t realize your strike zone included them. Traitor… You used to say I was your ideal type…”

“Listen. I don’t recall ever saying you were my type, so stop making up stuff.”

“Wait… Were you kind to me because I was a little girl back then? Is your attitude cold now because I’ve grown up?”

“Cut it out.”

Her twisted thinking is alarming. Honestly, no one else in this world has been as kind to Ange as I have.

I need to fix this before it gets out of hand.

“Listen, Ange.”

“What?”

She’s still sulking, so I grabbed her shoulders and made her face me.

“No matter what you think, you’ll always be my precious sister. Never forget that. Our sibling bond lasts forever.”

“…Huh?”

“So, whether you want it or not, we’re siblings for life. This bond is irreplaceable and eternal.”

“…Huh?”

“Do you understand, my dear sister?”

It’s been a while since I seriously tried to reason with Ange. The last time was probably when I told her I was leaving for university, and she sulked for days. I spent three nights soothing her back then.

“I get it, brother. No matter where we are or what we do, we’ll always be siblings. I’m your most important sister.”

“Glad you understand! Our bond is sacred and eternal, just like they say in those tragic anime.”

“Yeah…”

Today, Ange is unusually easy to convince. Why is that?

Well, no matter. Her teary eyes and blushing cheeks show she gets it. Crisis averted.

Meanwhile, Yuki-chan, my supposed true love…

“Onii-chan! What’s that?”

She was ecstatic upon seeing the festival stalls in the courtyard. It’s understandable; what kid doesn’t love a festival atmosphere?

“That’s a yo-yo fishing game.”

“Yo-yo fishing? Wow! I’ve never seen it before!”

Kids love these water balloon yo-yos, with their bright colors and all. The game involves fishing these floating balloons out of a pool with a paper string that easily breaks when wet.

“Have you ever played, Yuki-chan?”

“No!”

“Want to try?”

“Really? Yes, please!!”

Probably the festival organizers set up these stalls for the local kids. I didn’t expect to see yo-yo fishing here.

“Here, give it a try.”

“Thanks, Onii-chan! I’ll do my best!”

Yuki-chan eagerly tried to catch a yo-yo, with Kumi-san watching nearby. She seemed happy to see Yuki-chan having fun, a stark contrast to her earlier troubled expression.

“This is hard…”

Naturally, Yuki-chan failed three times in a row. Not surprisingly, given how difficult it is for a first-timer.

“Alright, let me give it a shot!”

Usually, they give out at least one water yo-yo after a few attempts, but since she hadn’t gotten any, I decided to try my luck.

“…Oh!”

But I failed miserably. How embarrassing.

“Onii-chan…”

“No excuses. I failed.”

Ange gave me a slightly exasperated look. I had nothing to say in return. As an inexperienced guy who tries too hard to look good, I never seem to deliver when it counts, and not in a good way.

“Did you lose, Onii-chan?”

“I’m sorry, Yuki-chan. I wanted to get it for you.”

“It’s okay! I had fun!”

“You’re such a sweet girl, Yuki-chan. Compared to you, I’m just a worthless loser…”

Her angelic behavior was almost painful to witness.

“Onii-chan, are you a loser?”

“Yeah, I’m a useless, pathetic loser.”

“A useless, pathetic loser? I don’t really get it, but you’re a loser, right?”

“That’s right. Call me a loser as much as you want.”

I crouched down to meet Yuki-chan’s eye level and made that self-deprecating statement.

But then, for some reason, she put her small hand on my head, patted it, and said,

“Thank you, Onii-chan. Loser, loser!”

“Ugh!”

Hold on a second, this could seriously mess with my head. I almost felt like spitting blood.

“Yuki, you shouldn’t call your dear Onii-chan a ‘loser.’ You might turn into a brat.”

“Really? Okay!”

“Grandma, why do you even know the word ‘brat’…?”

Kumi-san gently scolded Yuki-chan, and it seemed like she had a good handle on things. Yuki-chan really is a good and obedient child.

…So why did Kumi-san look so down when we met? And even now, she keeps glancing around nervously.

Is there someone she doesn't want to see?