That night, in Rice Shower's room in Miho Dormitory.
Curled up beneath the bulging blankets on her bed, Rice Shower hugged her pillow tightly, her cheeks burning red.
"Big Brother…"
Ever since she had seen that illusion of Big Brother in the hallway of Ritto Dorm that morning, she had found it harder and harder not to think about him.
The more she tried to forget him, the clearer his image became in her mind.
When she walked down the road and saw anything dark-colored, she would momentarily think it was him.
Could it be that she liked Big Brother?
Yes—she did like him. Rice Shower did not deny that.
She had never once seen his real face, but what she liked was not his appearance. It was the kindness in his heart.
Rice Shower respected him deeply, and being near him made her feel safe and comfortable. It was the kind of affection a younger sister had for an older brother.
But if one person kept occupying your thoughts all the time, then that had already gone beyond simple liking, hadn't it?
Her mother had once told little Rice Shower that one day, she would meet a special boy. Then the two of them would fall in love, think of each other constantly, want to stay together all the time, and never want to part.
Wasn't that exactly what was happening now?
She wanted to see Big Brother. She wanted to stay by his side. Even when she closed her eyes, his figure was there.
Did that mean… she was in love?
"Mmm…"
Rice Shower buried her face in her pillow, blushing furiously.
She did not know whether this was really love, and she did not dare think too deeply about it. For her, something like that still felt far too early.
But there was one thing she knew for certain.
She wanted more of Big Brother's affection.
In truth, Rice Shower envied Urara a great deal. Urara had become Big Brother's trainee horse girl, and after every training session, she got to enjoy him personally toweling off her sweat and rubbing her head.
On top of that, Big Brother was incredibly capable. Under his guidance, Urara had been improving at an astonishing pace, and Rice Shower—who accompanied Urara in training every day—could see that clearly.
Maybe it was because she was not as bright and adorable as Urara that Big Brother had never invited her to become his trainee.
At that moment, Rice Shower suddenly remembered how, when Big Brother had gotten drunk and collapsed, he had held her, patted her head, and told her she was cute.
"Am I… really cute…?"
Rice Shower climbed out of bed, walked over to the full-length mirror in her room, and looked at herself.
Her hair was jet black and not especially silky. Her eyes were not particularly beautiful either. She was small and frail, like a gust of wind could knock her over. Her whole demeanor was timid and withdrawn, gloomy and awkward…
Rice Shower was not cute at all…
"…"
Her mood fell, and her ears drooped dejectedly.
Was there really no path where Big Brother would think she was adorable… and invite her to become his trainee?
Then Rice Shower remembered something her dance instructor at the academy had once told them during class.
"The essence of horse-girl dancing is making hearts at the audience. You can be clumsy with the other movements, but you absolutely must master that one if you want the audience to feel how cute you are."
If she made that pose… would it make her seem a little cuter?
Facing the mirror, Rice Shower formed a heart with her hands and called out in a soft, timid voice,
"O… Onii… Onii-sama…"
"Mmm…!"
She could not even hold the pose for a full second before she dropped into a crouch, turning into a little steam engine as white puffs practically burst from her head.
Too embarrassing!
Normally, when she did this move during dance practice, she could manage it.
But the moment she imagined herself acting cute in front of Big Brother, she completely lost her courage.
Still, she could not give up. She had to become cuter—cute enough that Big Brother would want her as his trainee!
"Go, Rice Shower, go, Rice Shower, you can do it Oh"
She cheered herself on in the cutest voice she could manage.
"O… Onii… mmm…"
"Onee-sama… no, that's wrong…"
"Onii-sama… mmm…"
After many, many failed attempts, Rice Shower finally succeeded once. She managed to keep the heart pose for a full three seconds.
"Onii-sama~"
A warm little heart floated out from between her hands and struck the mirror in front of her.
"I did it~!"
Rice Shower was overjoyed.
She had finally gotten at least a little better at acting cute. Big Brother would probably like her more now, wouldn't he?
What would happen if that heart hit Big Brother?
Maybe…
She should try it tomorrow?
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 142)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter181)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter103)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter192)
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Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 173
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 166
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 110
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 190
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 165
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 156
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 81
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 102
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 66
Uma Musume: From Beginner 120
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 80
Uma Musume: I Want All 95
I Can Copy Unique Skills 84
Summoning an Evil God, but the 66
Supernatural Multiverse 83
My Harem Is Indescribable 75
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 81
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 67
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 75
Still playing traditional Honk 55
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 60
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 57
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 45
Transmigrated as Sukuna 55
Checking In in Demon Slayer 60
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 65
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 35
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 35
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 39
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 58
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 30
Why did they assign me to Uma 35
MYGO Beauties 42
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