Watching Seiryū's smile, Kurenai, who was walking beside him, once again felt like today's Seiryū was doing things she couldn't understand.
He had been acting completely normal just a few days ago!
So why...
She couldn't help but reach out and poke Seiryū's smooth cheek with her small hand. She pursed her lips and asked, "Seiryū, what are you smiling about again? Does getting pocket money really make you that happy? Or... are you actually looking forward to going to school?"
The arrogant smile on Seiryū's face faded. He snapped out of his fantasy of becoming Soul King in the Hokage world and crushing all enemies beneath his feet. Slapping away Kurenai's hand, he grumbled, "Don't mess around."
His skin was still delicate and tender. What if she poked him too hard?
He glared at Kurenai and said seriously,
"What nonsense are you talking about? Who said I'm looking forward to school? If I could just lie around doing nothing, who would bother going to school?"
Kurenai tilted her head.
"Then why were you smiling so weirdly? Did something good happen?"
"Isn't it worth smiling about when you get to go to school with your cute little sister?"
"Eh? So I'm that important?"
Kurenai's face turned slightly red, clearly very pleased by his words. But being called "younger sister" again made her annoyed. She emphasized, "Also, I'm the older sister!"
Seiryū wasn't as tall as her.
An older sister should be taller and stronger than her younger brother. She needed to firmly establish this image in Seiryū's mind.
"Let me clarify. You were born in June, and I was born in May. I'm a month older, which makes me the older brother!" Seiryū said firmly.
How could someone with a mental age over twenty call a little girl "older sister"?
Impossible. Absolutely not.
He didn't actually know his real birthday, but he decided he had to be older than Kurenai.
Kurenai pouted.
"But last time you..."
Not giving her a chance to finish, Seiryū interrupted and quickly made up an excuse,
"Back then, I wasn't familiar with the place or the people. You didn't know me, and I didn't know you. One has to be cautious and not reveal their true identity too soon.
Understand?"
"Hmm..." Kurenai was briefly confused by his explanation, but she wasn't completely convinced.
She crossed her arms.
"I don't care. I'm the older sister! Unless... you can beat me. Starting today, we're ninja. Ninja settle things with strength. Whoever's stronger is the older one!"
Seiryū burst into arrogant laughter again.
"You said it!"
Hehehe, did she really think she could suppress him?
Now that the system was activated and its rewards were effective, how could he, a cheater, possibly lose to this little girl?
Ridiculous!
Kurenai snorted with confidence.
"Of course. I'm not like you, who always goes back on his word. Once you can use your chakra, we'll have a match to determine who's the older sibling."
"Pfft, who's the older brother or sister? We'll see soon enough."
In her mind, she was sure to win. After all, she had already been training her Chakra for half a year.
And Seiryū? He had been completely against becoming a ninja before and hadn't even started Chakra training. He was far behind her, with no chance of winning!
Seiryū clapped his hands.
"Alright, deal. Uncle Shinku, you're our witness. I'm afraid Kurenai might go back on her word."
Kurenai puffed her cheeks.
"I won't go back on my word!"
"Hahaha!" Shinku couldn't help laughing as he watched the two bicker. He nodded and said, "I can be the witness. But as the older brother, you should be more tolerant of Kurenai."
He was well aware that Seiryū most likely had a special constitution. Recovering from near-fatal injuries overnight strongly suggested he was part of the Uzumaki Clan.
His daughter had decent talent, but it all depended on the comparison.
If Seiryū was indeed Uzumaki, his future achievements would surely be impressive.
Seiryū nodded.
"Next time, for sure!"
"..."
Kurenai pouted again, her cheeks puffed like a steamed bun, silently expressing her disapproval of her father's statement.
They hadn't even fought yet. Why was her father already siding with Seiryū?
She was not happy.
Seeing her expression, Shinku smiled awkwardly and quickly said, "Sorry, sorry. Father was wrong. Please forgive me!"
Kurenai's mood shifted quickly. She wasn't truly angry, just a bit displeased. Hearing her father apologize, she giggled and said brightly, "Then I want to eat dango. Double portion!"
Shinku smiled and nodded.
"Alright, alright."
Seiryū glanced at her.
"That stuff is way too sweet. If you eat too much, you won't be a cute little girl anymore. You'll turn into a little chubby girl."
Kurenai glared.
"No way. I'm naturally beautiful!"
The three of them chatted and laughed as they left the Ninja Academy. Today was just registration. Tomorrow would be the actual first day of class.
On the way home, Shinku was summoned to the Hokage's Office by an Anbu.
Kurenai and Seiryū walked home together.
Watching Kurenai eat dango one bite at a time like a little hamster, Seiryū couldn't help but comment, "If you eat that much, you won't be able to eat lunch. And this stuff is way too sweet. Don't you get tired of it?"
Kurenai's cheeks were puffed as she chewed her dango. She looked adorably smug.
After swallowing, she gave him a knowing look.
"Girls actually have two stomachs. One for sweets, and one for everything else."
Then she popped another dango into her mouth.
Seiryū: "..."
So now biology doesn't exist?
As he stared at her, Kurenai carefully moved the remaining dango behind her back and looked defensive.
"No. You can't have even one!"
"..."
Was she seriously guarding her food from him?
"Just don't turn into a chubby little girl."
"Hmph, I won't! I told you, I'm naturally beautiful!"
Seiryū suddenly had the urge to tease her. As they walked, he said casually, "There's a saying: 'You are what you eat, and you become what you shape.' I once saw a girl who ate too much dango, and eventually..."
He trailed off, deliberately building suspense.
Gulp Kurenai swallowed her bite. Seeing how mysterious Seiryū looked, she got a little nervous.
"She... turned into a dango?"
"..."
Seiryū's mouth twitched. What kind of logic was that?
Turned into a dango?
"No, no, no." He continued with dramatic tone, "She turned into a fat person. From a beautiful young girl, she ballooned into several hundred pounds. Isn't that terrifying?"
Kurenai looked at the last two dango, suddenly hesitant to eat them. Her voice was weak.
"R-really? But don't girls have two stomachs? How can they get fat?"
Who told you that girls have two stomachs...? Seiryū cursed inwardly, then sighed.
"If you eat too much, even the other stomach gets full."
Kurenai patted her belly.
"I don't think the other one's full yet..."
"Do you feel a little full right now?"
"Hmm... a little."
"That's a sign the other stomach is reaching capacity. If you eat any more, you'll really turn into a chubby little girl."
Seeing Seiryū's serious expression, Kurenai believed him a little.
"Then I won't eat anymore. I don't want to become chubby..."
"You're not eating them, right? Then I'll take them."
Seiryū lunged forward, bit off both remaining dango in two quick mouthfuls, and ran off.
"..."
Kurenai froze. She looked down at the empty bamboo skewer in her hand.
After a second, she exploded in rage and chased after him.
"You hateful Seiryū! Stop right there! Give me back my last dango!!"
(To be continued.)