Chapter 20 - Reunion

It’s suddenly my 7th birthday. I got a new game from dad, but I cleared it the next day. My dad was so confused when I told him it was not that challenging or good of a story, so I said that he can resell it online.

Now that I think of it, that’s so rude, huh?

A year passed by again, I’m 8 now. Because I’ve always prioritized my little sister, nobody ever invited me to play together.

In kindergarten, my nickname was Oyu(Warm Water) because I was once covered for a girl peeing herself in school nap time. Now, my nickname became Siscon for an obvious reason I couldn’t even complain.

But the same year, I entered a small tournament of Collect Monsters current main game at a certain store. Everybody was confused when I showed up.

The reason why I entered this tournament is because the prize is a plushie. I think it is a great prize for my sister. If she didn’t need it, I could always use it as a decoration in my room.

My first opponent was so confident he could beat me, until I put three of his ColleMon to sleep and snatched an easy win. My strategy was having 3 max speed and defense to at least put an enemy ColleMon asleep, while my max attack and speed sturdy ColleMon took care of the other pokemon. By turn 2, even if I can’t finish the enemy off, it is 2 pokemon sleeping.

At that time, it seems like nobody ever thought of utilizing the system, always going for flashy strong moves even if they are not a certain hit.

After I won the tournament that day, my nickname became Professor and everybody asked me for ColleMon battle hints. It seems like I made some friends…?

By the way, my little sister was so happy she slept with the plushie.

So, comes my 9th birthday. It was nothing special. If I had to say, our family went to the Theme Park, the very same one as my 2nd birthday. Since a special ColleMon parade is being held there, my 5 years old little sister shouted so happily. She really loves one of the ColleMon, the one I got for her in the tourney.

When I was 10 years old, I started learning English because I stumbled upon a game from America that looks great but has no Japanese translation. When I tried to speak it daily, my parents brought me to the doctor, thinking I was speaking gibberish. Seems like my parents don’t understand English.

Eventually, I became somewhat knowledgeable and even understood 80 percent of the game, but had to stop after my little sister snapped to me of how annoying I sound.

My 11th birthday… It was a hurtful memory.

“I hate Onii-chan!”

It was the first time we quarreled so hard she tried to run away from home in the midst of a snow storm. In the end, I found her in the park shaking in the cold of the night, brought her back home and made her a hot milk cocoa.

The reason for our fight? Well… I was so into a game dad bought me for my birthday gift that I kinda pretended I couldn't hear her.

I bought her a really big ColleMon plushie with my 5 years worth of my new year gifts that I saved, and she forgave me. She still had the one I gave her from the tourney too, and cherished both of it.

I am 12 years old and am a middle schooler now. Still, my school is next to the Elementary School, so me and my little sister always go to school together.

Some months later, my little sister told me to stay away from her in school, since everyone mocked him as a big brother’s kid. I mean, that sounds nice to my ear.

After I found out the initiator just said that to get rid of me and approach my little sister, I intimidated the 3rd year of an elementary school kid by beating him in a ColleMon match.

“You want my sister but can’t beat me at this game? Think again, kid.”

Yeah that comment was so harsh that a teacher scolded me on how childish I am being too harsh on a young kid.

13 years old. Dad went to America to work. I had to cram my English knowledge to him in a week, and he’s become really fluent.

Was my dad holding back all this time and only able to put all his potential when needed?

But I suddenly regretted my choice, when a colleague of my father brought back my father’s body to our house.

It seems like he covered for a woman being picked on by some thugs, and got stabbed. The cause of death is blood loss.

I remember my Mom and little sister crying so hard next to me.

Strangely, I was sad, but not to the point of tearing. When I heard my Father died protecting someone, what came to my mind was “he’s dying as a hero” and my sadness got instantly replaced by the feeling of pride that I’m his son.

Still… I regretted ever teaching him English. He's probably gonna be learning it from someone else if I can’t, but that might take longer and he didn’t have to get involved in such a situation…

I want to help mom, but the business she started was bento boxes and I got no talent for cooking. Everything I cook always tastes bad. In contrast, my little sister became so good at cooking even though she’s still in the 4th grade of elementary school. I think our dad’s blood ran through her so well.

I started working at a game shop owned by a friend’s dad. I am sometimes a cashier, sometimes giving recommendations, and sometimes broadcasting some ColleMon battle strategy when a tournament is coming closer.

I dyed my hair white for an event, but I ended up liking it so much I decided to keep it like this.

After I came to work here, the shop became so much more lively, my friend and his dad said. I don’t think I did anything special, but they gave me a bonus. I couldn’t thank them enough.

I am 14 years old now. One day, I found a model magazine laying out on the table. It must’ve been my little sister, since she always talked about how she found herself an Oshi. It’s an amateur model, she told me.

“Come to think of it, she never mentioned the name, though.”

I looked at the model the page is on. Is this her Oshi?

Oh… she gives out a mysterious aura… it feels like out of loneliness and longing for something… but her looks kinda reminds me of someone… but I’m not sure who…

I then looked at her stage name… M I K A…

“Huh?”

“Onii-chan!” My little sister who just finished drying her hair, snatched the magazine away from me. “Don’t look at MIKA-chan with those filthy eyes of yours!”

“Oh my little sister, even I can get hurt. Just what do you think I am?”

“Siscon.”

“Can’t deny that.”

“Game freak.”

“Hey, I’m not even that deep into games.”

“A pervert who washed my underwear.”

“Sorry, I thought that I could save our bill by washing all of them together, but to think that girls had such delicate fabrics on them… so that’s why mom always does laundry twice, huh… I think I’ll wear less varieties of clothes from now on.”

“Stop, the whole house will reek of your sweat!”

She’s still 10, but she has a lot of guts confronting me like this, huh.

“Anyway, is Mika 14 years old?”

“You’re suddenly being creepy, Onii-chan. She’s my cool and beautiful angel to soothe me, not some persistent siscon who never stops bothering me like you. Ahh, if only I could have such a big sister!”

She sure ran her mouth all she wanted… Maybe I spoiled her too much all this time.

“If she’s indeed about 14, just saying, she might be the Mika I know from kindergarten.”

“Hahaha, my Onii-chan is being so delusional~ What, are you trying to win my attention just because I have been cold to you recently~?”

“So you are aware that you’re being cold to me, huh…”

She doesn’t believe me at all, so I gave up explaining to the stone head and went to work.

Around the new year something unexpected happened. My little sister made me go with her to a meet and greet + signage with her Oshi in Tokyo, since my mom won’t allow her to go to a far place alone. We live in Kyoto, so it’s not that long of a journey by shinkansen.

Since she only got one ticket, I had to wait outside the store. 20 people lined up for the meet and greet, I guess. She came so early but decided to be the last, since she wanted to see her Oshi doing her best, she said.

“I’m a big fan of your works, MIKA-chan! You always look so mature in all of your photos, all very beautiful shots! Though I am so far from mature, maybe because I was spoiled rotten by my family? I can only admire you! I can’t wait for your next work!”

I can hear her excited voice, since she’s been the loudest fan to shout her love to her Oshi, MIKA.

“Fufu. Thank you for your support in Chwitter. I always looked at your account posting the magazine I am in and promoted it.”

“Wait, you saw them!? Oh no, did I go overboard?”

“No, I’m really happy.”

“MIKA-chan, what a mature angel you are! If only I had an Onee-chan like you… wait, but making you marry that guy is no good, I’ll be sorry for you since he will be prioritizing his own sister over his own wife.”

“Can’t deny that!” I commented.

“Hear that dumb Onii-chan of mine!?”

“Fufu, you two sound so close. Isn’t he a good brother, tagging along far away from Osaka? The convenience store you bought my magazine from is in Kyoto, right? I once lived there when I was little.”

… hearing that shook my shoulder. If she is indeed Mika from kindergarten, can you imagine how awkward it is to be unprepared, reuniting with someone who might have had a crush on you back then?

I quickly went inside the MkRonald across the road, and texted my little sister that I’m buying some potatoes.

But when I was about to enter the store…

“Wait!” A hand grabbed my wrist.

“Uh… may I help you?” I said while still not turning my head back.

Judging by her reaction, my little sister must’ve spilled her full name for the shikishi!

“Are you… Yuu-kun?”

That one question confirmed that she’s indeed the Mika I knew in the kindergarten.

But of course, I’m not prepared to reunite like this. It just feels so wrong, now that she has become a model. What if she got into any scandal?

“You got the wrong guy.” I squeaked my voice.

*Thwack* My little sister smacked my head, and pulled my ears.

“Onii-chan, stop with that gross voice.”

“Aight…”

“I don’t want to believe it, but you didn’t lie, huh? I knew it from a certain interview, so you are the prince she’s been looking for all this time, huh?”

“Wait, a model can say such a thing!? What about the scandal that will come after!?”

“Morelike, MIKA-chan got so many new fans, especially girls after saying that. Instead, thanks to that, some creepy old men became uninterested, and her fanbase just got stronger and more solid to someday see her true smile.”

“Uh… I can’t follow you.”

“JUST BE A MAN AND FACE HER!”

My little sister pushed me back towards her Oshi… no, Mika.

“Uh… long time no see, Mika. Are you doing well?”

She grabbed my palm.

“I’ve always loved you! Please marry me!”

She still loved me!? Also not going out, but a sudden proposal!?

“A… u… a-ah…” Even my sister couldn’t even look more surprised, this is the first time I saw her brain and body freeze.

“Wa- wa- wait, we’re still middle schoolers!” I said in the midst of panic.

“Then, when we graduated high school!” She held my hand tighter.

“Stop right there. First thing first, we’ve just reunited, and don’t really know each other now, right?”

“Then, let’s go out with the intention of getting married in the future!”

Ah, she asked me to go out now, huh. Wait, that’s not the problem!

“Calm down! First, I’m not even in love with you yet, so… can we start as friends?”

“...”

Ugh, the silence is killing me. Even my little sister started glaring at me af if those eyes are saying “marry her, or I’ll cut our tie”.

Isn’t she going too far for her Oshi!? Oh wait, did she just want her Oshi to officially become her big sister!?

“Yet…? I got it!”

“Thank goodness.”

“Then, I’ll make you fall in love with me!”

“As long as you understand… wait, huh?”

And thus, my year being approached by a magazine model started.

…

The running water from the river woke me up.

Next to me is the sleeping princess, who is still recovering from her fever. Seems like she’s moving in her sleep that my shirt towel fell down.

I gently lifted up her hair so I could check her forehead. Yeah, I think her fever’s pretty much gone.

“Hnn… ah… Yuu-kun…”

“... Good morning, Mika.”

“Fufu… so it really is you… Yuu-kun…” She smiled in relief, holding my hand, before getting drowned in drowsiness again.

She’s currently supposed to still have the memory of 6 years old, but since she lo… argh, it’s embarrassing now to admit that…

Judging by how we reunited back then, I think she’s never once forgotten about me. I mean, she even proposed to me on the spot…

Not that I’m the one to talk about it, I recognized her somewhere when I saw her in the magazine after all.

I was in denial, telling myself I must’ve gotten it wrong because I didn't want to bother her. A model’s childhood crush suddenly showing up will only make things awkward.

But… her feelings toward me never changed, huh…

“I wonder what happened between us after that…”