Collection 10

Kubo Sisters: Arisa and Ai, series 1

"Touya-kun, look!" beamed Ai. "Those. Those are the corn seeds I planted with Kan-chan! They just sprouted!"

"Congrats! Ummmm, it will be a lot of work and waiting till you get corn out of them, though."

"Eheehee!" She sat down next to the little plants. "Don't you worry guys, I'll wait on you. AiAi will be your very own maid! I will dress the part for you!"

[ Hora, Touya! Let's make you a butler costume! ]

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[ Wow! Is that... Is that coconut pie!? ]

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"Look, Touya-kun!" said Ai excitedly. "A limited-edition Pomelo-man!" Squeal. "I can't believe I'll find it in a vendo!"

"Is a Pomelo-man ultra-rare or something?"

"Nuh-uh. Not really. There were plenty back when I was in grade school in Uchiura, but they pulled it out. Now they're back! Eheh--!"

[ Here, have your pick. The pink-and-purple one's mine. ]

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"I am not having those silly things on me!" declared Arisa about the cat-ears.

"Well then, Ai-chan," said Yoshiyuki with a shrug to her sister, "I guess it's time I dig up something else in that drawer. The photos should still be there--"

"F-Fine! Fine! Guh... G-Give me... The smallest! The smallest you can find!" Ai could only hold back a laugh.

[ Ahem. Anything you need? What? Are you here to see me in those cat-ears?! Grrrr. Alright, just once shouldn't hurt. But just once! ]

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"Why can't I be good at this?" whimpered Ai over the crane machine. "And they make it look so simple."

"Don't ask me, I'm not good at this either."

"Do you have any more coins? I want. The pink bunny one."

[ Why do I even bother with a crane machine? Urrrgh... I can just... I can just buy the stuffies at the shop in Izu Mite... right? ]

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"Onee-chan, what is the best variety of tea for you?"

Arisa gazed fondly into the distance. "You know, Ai, Touya-kun? I have just thought about this. There are many variants of tea, but there will only be one Ai or Touya. So I should be asking first, who shall I be drinking tea with today?" Smile. "Well, shall we?"

[ Please remind Ai to watch her weight, alright? I cannot stress this enough. ]

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"O... Onee-chan..." said the younger Kubo, nervous.

"Ai. It's alright. Clear your mind. Focus on your swing."

Gulp. "Y-You're just making it sound easy."

But then... she closed her eyes... inhaled, and finally raised the golf club.

Sigh. "You're holding it like a baseball bat, you know?"

[ Ai just wants me to hold her arms for her again. She is still a child... and I love it about her. ]

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"Onee-chan, are you trying to recreate the hot choco at Anya-senpai's?"

"Eh?! O-Of course not, the Kubo pride goes into our cooking, as well!"

Soft giggle. "You two are really close, aren't you?"

[ I wish I met Anna-senpai when I was small, too, like Sis did! ]

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"I wonder what it is your sister considers fun."

"Well...," said Ai, "she can play the koto, and do the other refined arts from time to time, but she doesn't smile a lot. I do wonder sometimes, myself." Sigh.

"Iya," said Arisa overhearing. She smiled warmly and took her sister's hand. "Having you by my side always is my concept of fun." She kissed Ai's hair.

[ And no, what you saw in those old photos of me are not fun! ]