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When I walked into the living room, I was met with the sounds of a heated debate. Kaguya's voice, as usual, was the loudest. The source of this content ɪs N0v3l.Fiɾe.net
"What do you mean you rejected my all-black outfit!? It was perfect!"
"Heh. Kaguya, your fashion sense is as bizarre as ever."
"Aha! Yes, yes! This will look absolutely adorable on her!"
It seemed the girls were more invested in this date than Natsumi and I were. In the end, a hesitant Natsumi was dressed in a simple one-piece dress, a light jacket, and a matching hat. The outfit cinched at her small waist, accentuating her petite frame and making her look exceptionally sweet and delicate.
As the other girls watched with sincere approval, I took Natsumi's small hand in mine and led her out the door.
Nearby, Tohka blinked her large, curious eyes. "Huh? Kotori, why is your face so red?"
Instantly, every head swiveled toward Kotori, their gazes a mixture of confusion and amusement.
Kotori froze, internally cursing me. 'It's that pervert's fault, teasing me first thing in the morning.'
Despite the scrutiny, she maintained a calm expression and offered a lame excuse. "It's nothing. The lollipop I had was too spicy."
To sell the lie, she casually popped another one into her mouth.
Tohka tilted her head, completely lost. "Lollipops come in spicy flavors? I've never had one! Kotori, do you have any more? I want to try!"
A beat of stunned silence fell over the room.
"Why... why did you bring me here?"
Natsumi stared, bewildered, at the bustling shopping mall in front of us. This clearly wasn't what she'd pictured for our date. She instinctively grabbed the corner of my shirt and tried to hide behind me, overwhelmed by the crowds.
I glanced down at her, then gently took her small hand.
"Don't be scared, Natsumi," I said with a reassuring smile. "You need to be more confident. You're adorable. no one is going to laugh at you."
I leaned in closer, my voice dropping to a persuasive murmur. "Besides, don't you want to show everyone how cute and beautiful you can be?"
"..." Her emerald eyes widened. She looked from my hand holding hers to the simple dress she wore. After a moment, she bit her lip. A flicker of determination sparked in her gaze, and with a firm nod, she let me lead her into the stream of shoppers.
She was timid at first, but with a little time and encouragement, her shyness began to melt away. Soon, I saw her eyes lock onto an ice cream display in a dessert shop. She swallowed hard, clearly thirsty from walking around in the summer heat.
A small smile played on my lips. I led her over to the counter and bought two cones.
"Here, this is for you."
I took the ice cream from the clerk and held it directly to her lips.
"I can do it myself—"
Before she could finish her protest, I gently pushed the cone forward.
I could practically read the flustered look on her face. 'This is the third time! Ever since I came to this house, they've all been treating me like a child. I like being spoiled, but do they have to feed me like a baby!? Where's my dignity!?'
She subconsciously licked the cool, sweet cream.
A blissful smile spread across her face, her eyes curving into happy crescents. Seeing her so delighted made my own mood soar. I offered her another bite, then scooped her up and settled her comfortably on my lap in a nearby seat.
"So?" I asked with a smug grin. "Happy now?"
She turned her head away with a pout, embarrassed about being fed, but the joyful smile she couldn't hide gave her away completely. Lost in her own little world, she continued to accept bite after bite, completely forgetting she was sitting on my lap.
She remained oblivious until the ice cream was gone. I endured her unblinking, accusatory stare and gently wiped her mouth with a napkin, the very picture of a concerned older brother.
My other hand, which had been resting on her shoulder, gave her a final, patronizing pat. She just kept staring at me with those wide, doll-like eyes, as if daring me to make another move.
"Haha, Natsumi, you're so cute."
Even my thick skin couldn't hold up against her unwavering gaze forever. With a sigh, I relented.
Having won our silent battle, Natsumi rolled her eyes and shot me an annoyed glare.
I just gave her a roguish grin and gently flicked her small, perfect nose.
"Alright, alright, my bad," I cooed. "To make it up to you, how about I take you to the amusement park?"
She just pouted and turned her head away, ignoring me.
Just then, a middle-aged woman sitting nearby couldn't help but chime in. "Young man, can't you see your little sister is throwing a tantrum? You need to coax her! A sister is a brother's treasure, you know. You have to dote on her."
Easy for you to say, lady. You're not the one in the hot seat. Still... she has a point.
In the end, after a flurry of sweet-talk and a few one-sided promises, Natsumi was happily humming a tune, her hand held firmly in mine as we made our way to the amusement park.
We finally left the park as evening began to set in. Though it was dinnertime, the summer sky was still bright.
"It's getting late, Natsumi. Let's head home."
"Wait," she said, stopping me. When I looked at her, I saw a deep blush on her cheeks, her green eyes shimmering with shyness.
"You... you need to crouch down first."
Confused, I did as she asked. She leaned in and planted a quick, soft kiss on my cheek.
Natsumi pulled back, her face still flushed, and looked up at me with big, watery eyes.
"That's a special reward for you, Onii-chan, Did... did you like it?"
"Mhm," I replied sincerely. "I liked it a lot."
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