"Anna wants to become an author?"
Sora looked over in surprise, very curious.
"I don't think I have ever heard you mention that before."
"I had a dream last night, you see." Anna tilted up her pretty face. Instead of revealing the secret of the diary, she substituted it with a dream, her voice crisp. "In my dream, my future self grew up to become a beautiful girl author, attending book signing events all over the country. After waking up, the dream felt super realistic, as if I had truly lived through that part of my life."
Sora complained.
"No matter how realistic it felt, it was still just a dream."
"But what if? What if I really do have talent as an author?" Anna clasped her hands over her chest, looking over pitifully. "I feel like my days are just filled with eating and drinking, my life is way too decadent. I also want to have a goal to strive for."
Living in this world revolves around food and drink; just wanting to eat and drink isn't shameful. Those who constantly overthink and cause themselves grief are the real idiots!
Seeing the gluttonous girl's exceptionally serious expression and tone, Sora did not refuse immediately.
"Anna wants my help, but the problem is I don't have relevant experience..."
"Who says you don't?" Anna swiftly leaned her body forward, her bright azure eyes staring unblinkingly at him, her voice crisp and sweet. "The novels Sora wrote before all got published, you are clearly a super amazing author!"
"Out of all the boys in school, there probably aren't many who have achieved such a thing, right?"
"So Sora shouldn't underestimate himself."
"You are actually super outstanding."
"In my heart, Sora will definitely become a super amazing author in the future, maybe even a great literary master!"
Sora: "..."
No wonder you have so many friends at school, the emotional value you provide is simply too abundant!
Seeing his own reflection in Anna's clear eyes, with the sweet, fresh scent of the girl drifting to his nose, Sora's heart beat slightly faster. He averted his gaze and ultimately agreed.
"Since Anna puts it that way, then I will give it a try... Let me state up front, if you can't become a beautiful girl author, don't get angry."
"I won't get angry." A bright smile blossomed on Anna's pretty face, like a begonia quietly unfurling in the spring breeze, brightening up the living room. "Even if I can't become a beautiful girl author in the future, I will just make Sora treat me to a bowl of eel rice!"
Sora looked over expressionlessly. "Your true goal wouldn't happen to be the eel rice, would it?"
"Ehehe~"
Anna stuck out her delicate pink tongue, playfully winking one eye, and lightly patted Sora's shoulder.
"Anyway, I am leaving my life in Sora's hands."
"..."
Having obtained the promise she wanted, Anna was highly motivated, looking over with expectation.
"Sora, let's start the teaching right now, okay?"
"Definitely not right now." Sora shook his head helplessly. "Suddenly asking me to teach you writing, I have absolutely no idea where to start. At least let me organize my thoughts first."
"Okay then~"
"..."
Time quietly slipped by.
The afternoon sunlight was exceptionally tranquil.
"Phew..."
Anna raised a hand to cover her mouth and yawned, feeling a little drowsy.
"Does Sora want to eat some ice cream?"
Sora was rapidly typing code, and upon hearing this, he didn't even lift his head.
"I don't."
"Eh..."
The girl's disappointed voice rang in his ears.
Sora's fingers paused slightly. He quickly understood Anna's true intention and said helplessly.
"Go ahead, bring two ice creams over."
Asking if he wanted one was just an excuse; Anna wanting to eat one herself was the truth.
"Leave it to me."
Anna's eyes lit up. She quickly got up and dashed to the kitchen, soon returning with two ice creams.
"Should I bring an ice cream up to Sagiri?"
Anna looked up toward the second floor.
"No need." Sora shook his head. "If Sagiri wants to eat, she will get it herself. Knocking on her door to interrupt her might even make her angry."
"Then never mind..."
Anna sat down right next to Sora. Her slender, jade-like fingers peeled open the ice cream wrapper, and then she offered the ice cream to Sora.
"Sora, your ice cream."
"Thanks."
"Hey, hey~" Anna tilted her head to look over, her smile radiant, her voice coquettish. "Sora looks very busy, do you want me to feed the ice cream to you?"
"That is completely unnecessary."
Sora decisively reached out and took the ice cream.
Just as he took two bites, the girl's soft, sweet voice suddenly echoed.
"Nii-san, come upstairs..."
"Hmm?"
Hearing the call, Sora looked up in surprise and saw a silver-haired loli hiding around the corner of the staircase, waving at him.
"Anna, I am going upstairs for a bit."
Sora casually placed the ice cream on the table, got up, and headed upstairs.
Patter patter patter.
Sagiri quickly turned around and trotted into her room, but didn't close the door all the way, leaving a crack to peek outside.
"Sagiri, what is it?"
Sora walked to the door of the room and asked softly.
Sagiri poked half of her small face out, looking at him with the disgusted gaze of someone looking at a cheating scumbag. "I am up here working so hard drawing things, and Nii-san is actually downstairs having a secret affair with Anna... Commit seppuku!"
It was just eating ice cream, that hardly counts as a secret affair, alright! Even if we were really being intimate, it wouldn't warrant committing seppuku as an apology!
"I am not, I didn't." Sora quickly explained the situation. "I have been downstairs writing code the whole time, I just took a break."
"I will trust Nii-san for now..."
Sagiri blinked and suddenly said.
"I want to eat ice cream too."
Sora turned around. "I will go get it for you."
"Wait a moment..."
Sagiri reached out her small hand, hurriedly grabbing the hem of Sora's shirt, and whispered.
"Nii-san... come inside first."
Sora was surprised. "You are actually letting me inside?"
"Hurry up and come inside, don't make me keep inviting you, idiot Nii-san."
"..."
Sora stepped into the room. He saw that the curtains were drawn, making the light dim, illuminated only by the cool white glow of the laptop. The room was fairly clean and tidy, at least much better than his own room, and the air wasn't stuffy; instead, there was a faint, fresh fragrance.
"Nii-san, don't look around, and definitely don't think about lewd things!"
Sagiri blushed and raised her leg to step on Sora's foot. Of course, being stepped on by a jade-like foot clad in white thigh-high socks didn't hurt at all.
Sora was very speechless. "Why would I possibly think about lewd things?"
"Hmph." Sagiri crossed her arms over her chest, turning her head away with a light snort. "Nii-san secretly watched those terrible movies, you are no longer pure!"
Hurry up and apologize to the four billion men in the world; they all became dirty because of your one sentence!
Sagiri continued to complain in a low voice. "It is said that once boys watch that kind of movie, their heads are filled with nothing but lewdness."
Slander, this is pure slander! A boy's head is clearly filled with global affairs and people's livelihoods, alright!
Sora remained expressionless, decisively changing the subject.
"Let's stop this topic here, never bring it up again. Why did Sagiri call me inside?"