"Yo-chan, hug me tight."
This is strange. Why am I being hugged by Shinyo right now?
I put down the controller and stroked her head, thinking back on what had just happened.
--I was supposed to be playing a game.
The game I was playing was a globally popular racing game. It was a game where you raced karts against plumbers wearing red and green hats. It was fun because you could block them with bananas and shells, or shrink them with thunder. Even now that I'm in high school, I still enjoy playing it every once in a while, and I think it's a godly game.
Shinyo also loved it and would play this game whenever she came over to our house.
Today, she had been enjoying the first two races as usual, but after the third race, she had finished last in all three, and finally exploded in anger.
"No way! Why is Koharu always the one being targeted? That's not fair. Ughhhhhh!!"
Just as you'd expect from a six-year-old. He's at an age where he's honest about his emotions.
Just as I thought she was raising her voice in anger, she lunged at my stomach.
"Guh"
It was impossible to avoid it. Because I was sitting cross-legged, I couldn't move suddenly, and all I could do was to block the blow so that Shinyo-chan wouldn't get hurt.
"Yo-chan, can I pet you?"
And she was being sweet.
The stress must have reached its limit, and he wanted some relief.
"I get it... so calm down. There's no point in getting angry over a game, you have to have fun."
I knew that refusing would only make her even more upset, so I did as I was told and stroked her head. When I ran my fingers through her long black hair, Shinyo started thrashing about, as if she was itchy.
"Hahaha. That tickles."
I was angry just a moment ago.
When I petted him, his mood instantly improved. A six-year-old's mood changes quickly.
"Yo-chan, hug me tight."
And then she hugged me.
Shinyo-chan looks like she's having fun. She hugs me and has a very satisfied look on her face.
"Hey hey, Koharu... I love you so much, Yo-chan."
"Yes, yes, thank you. I love you too, Shinyo-chan."
"Yay! It's so memorable!"
"Yeah, it's mutual."
When was it?
I think it was about a year ago?
This is what Shinyo said to me.
"Koharu, I'm going to marry Yo-chan!"
I've known Shinyo since she was a baby. She's my niece, so I've taken good care of her. Thanks to that, she's become very attached to me.
That's why he said he wanted to get married.
Hearing that, I also remembered that Xin Yang's father—my sister's husband—had a very complicated look on his face. "Brother-in-law, I'm sorry. But it's not my fault, so please don't be too cautious. Every time we meet, it's a little awkward."
Well, let's leave aside the question of my relationship with my brother-in-law.
Anyway, Shinyo-chan has been quite... how should I put it, she has often been quite friendly towards me. For now, I've just brushed it off as just being precocious, and I thought that was fine, but - if Hime were to come, it would be a different story.
(Shinyo-chan and Hime are close in age, so it's not surprising that they are seen as rivals.)
Six and eight years old. There is a big difference in their mental ages, but it would not be an exaggeration to say that their physical ages are almost the same.
Hime may not pay her any attention, but I have a feeling that Shinyo will not be able to remain calm when she sees Hime.
After all, his mother is his older sister, a former delinquent.
Her strong competitive spirit has been passed down to her, and she will no doubt be strong-willed towards Hime as well.
(I don't want to see them fighting... Ok, I feel bad for Hime, but I think I'll stop for today.)
I was hesitant, but I decided.
I decided to politely decline Hime's invitation to come and play.