gumi Kato looked at Kotomi Izumi's sleeping face through her tablet, the corners of her mouth softening into a more relaxed smile. She hadn't just started watching—she had been watching Kotomi play gas for several hours, ever since 7 p.m., through the miniature cara disguised as an owl plushie.
"Even though I get a little jealous when Kotomi plays gas with other girls, seeing her smile so happily while playing... maybe the gas helped ease her heart a bit."
After saying this, gumi let out a sigh, set the tablet down beside her, and lay back on her bed. She hadn't yet figured out how to make things right with Kotomi Izumi, but at least seeing her smiling— even if not because of her—gave gumi a little comfort.
This morning, in a mont of impulse, she not only bit Kotomi's lip until it bled but also made her cry from the pain. Kotomi must've been so scared. She probably had no idea why gumi suddenly acted like that... forced to endure a kiss that brought no pleasure, only pain...
Thinking back on her actions that morning, gumi felt like an unforgivable villain. No wonder Aimi was always so displeased with her...
"Ah, no wait, that's not it. I was thinking wrong. Aimi doesn't like simply because she hasn't found her own path yet. Seeing already far ahead on mine, it's only natural she can't stand the sight of ." gumi said this seriously, and only then did she feel a bit better, letting out a soft laugh.
As she settled down and reflected, she wondered: why had she kissed Kotomi so roughly this morning? Maybe it was because she'd grown used to Kotomi's gentle nature and subconsciously assud Kotomi wouldn't get mad—so she unintentionally used too much force, ending up making her cry from the pain.
But honestly, who doesn't get upset?
"Thinking about it, it's completely my fault. I definitely have to apologize to Kotomi again, no matter whether she wants to forgive or not..." gumi murmured. Sleepiness ca and went. Just as she felt on the verge of drifting off, she would suddenly wake again.
Tossing and turning—there was no doubt: she had insomnia.
For those with insomnia, the night feels endlessly long.
They long for dawn to co sooner, yet also hope they might fall asleep early.
The next morning, Kotomi woke up early. After breakfast, she picked up her school bag and headed out.
She opened the front door but didn't see gumi waiting under the streetlight like usual.
"Where's gumi?" Kotomi looked left and right but didn't spot her anywhere. She had been planning to talk things over with her this morning.
Kotomi stood under the streetlight and waited. Nearly ten minutes passed, but gumi never showed up. Instead, a group of stray cats had gathered around her feet.
"Sigh... could gumi still be asleep?"
Kotomi sighed helplessly and crouched down to pet the cats around her feet. The nearby strays were already familiar with her. Even the most aloof and skittish of them would gently nuzzle her palm when she reached out.
Dried fish snacks had certainly helped win them over, but the main reason was Kotomi's innate, animal-attracting warmth.
She rembered how, as a child back in her Yamanashi hotown, a stray cat once saw her and imdiately brought over its kittens, placing them at her feet. Then the mother cat ran off to the river, caught two fish—one for herself and her kittens, and the other as thanks to Kotomi for watching her babies.
Kotomi only found out when she was older that mother cats sotis entrust their young to other trusted females when they have things to do.
Upon learning this, Kotomi thought: Oh no, I've beco a mother cat!
"ow? ow?"
A tabby cat owed in confusion. Kotomi recognized this one clearly—it was the only cat gumi had managed to ta and feed around here.
"Are you asking why that big sister with the short black hair didn't co today? I don't know either… I've been waiting here for her, but she still hasn't shown up."
Kotomi patted the cat's head and then looked again in the direction of the Kato residence. Still no sign of gumi.
It was getting late. If she waited any longer, she'd definitely be late. Surely gumi wouldn't skip school, right? Kotomi stood up, said goodbye to the stray cats, and headed to school alone.
She hadn't gone far when gumi, who had been hiding behind a nearby streetlight, finally erged cautiously.
She had kept her distance and only saw Kotomi squatting under the streetlight petting the cats and occasionally looking around. But she hadn't heard what Kotomi said, since she was too far.
gumi stepped forward, but Kotomi's figure had already disappeared from view. She scratched her head in regret—she should have just walked over and greeted Kotomi like usual.
But sohow, her legs just wouldn't move. Or maybe she simply didn't have the courage to face Kotomi. All she could do was hide behind the streetlight and secretly watch her pet the cats.
"Hey!"
Just as gumi was passing the Izumi house, the door suddenly opened and Aimi called out to her in a cold tone.
"Good morning, Aimi. Heading to school?" gumi greeted her with a smile.
"I should've left for school ages ago. But while I was packing my bag upstairs, I just so happened to spot you hiding behind the streetlight, spying on my sister. To protect her, I've been watching you from the second-floor balcony this whole ti," Aimi said, clearly displeased.
She had originally been enjoying the heartwarming sight of her sister playing with the cats from the balcony. Then a glance to the side revealed gumi hiding behind another streetlight, secretly watching Kotomi.
How despicable! Spying on my sister like that—why can't you just look at her openly and honestly?! From soone who had been doing the exact sa thing monts ago, Aimi now voiced her strongest condemnation and disdain for gumi's stealthy behavior.
gumi twitched her mouth. This little sister-in-law sure had a strange way of thinking.
No wonder she hadn't found her path yet, gumi thought mischievously to herself.
"Oh right, I thought my sister was acting a bit off yesterday. And this morning, you didn't greet her as usual but hid behind a streetlight to watch her. Did you two… have a fight or sothing?"
Aimi hesitated but couldn't hide her curiosity. After all, sothing definitely felt off between Kotomi and gumi this morning. Normally, they would et under the streetlight out front. But today was clearly different.
When sothing unusual happens, there's always a reason!
Aimi concluded that there had to be so small conflict between her sister and gumi.
"Unbelievable. You actually noticed sothing was wrong!" gumi exclaid in mock shock.
Aimi thought gumi was genuinely impressed by her keen observation, and with hands on her hips, she laughed proudly—convinced she had won yet another round against gumi.
gumi simply maintained a polite smile and said nothing. If it makes you happy, little sister-in-law, then go ahead.
Once Aimi was done flaunting, she asked again, "Co on, tell —did you two really fight?"
"Well… I wouldn't exactly call it a fight..."
"Then it was a fight. To upset my sister, who's usually so good-natured, you must be sothing else." Aimi landed the perfect finishing blow.
Pfft—
Hit squarely by Aimi's jab, gumi scratched her cheek awkwardly. "Okay, fine. I did upset Kotomi yesterday. I guess… we're in the middle of a cold war now?"
"Yay! Ti to pop the champagne!"
Aimi threw her hands up in celebration. Knowing her sister and gumi had fought and were now in a cold war—who in the world could be happier than Aimi?
Wait a second!
Aimi's sharp little brain suddenly realized sothing.
Why would gumi say she and Kotomi were in a "cold war"?
That phrase is usually used for couples or married partners whose relationship has turned cold due to a conflict.
Couples…
Married partners…
Neither of those describes her sister and gumi, right?
Caught in her own ntal spiral, Aimi stood there in a daze.
What exactly is the relationship between my sister and gumi? Even if gumi has so shady intentions toward my sister, she hasn't succeeded yet, right? She hasn't even confessed to my sister. Who confesses that quickly anyway?
Even at her boldest, gumi probably wouldn't confess to my sister until after graduating high school. And whether my sister accepts or not is a whole other matter!
Looking at it that way, my advantage is massive. It's almost enough to make feel bad. As long as I confess to my sister before gumi does in her third year, I'll definitely win!
Back to the point—gumi calling her fight with my sister a "cold war"? That's 100% her trying to save face in front of , trying to trick into thinking they're already dating. Hmph, how childish. I'm not so three-year-old who'd fall for such a la trick.
Heh, such an obvious trap laid for —if I actually fell into it, gumi would be laughing at every day.
gumi Kato, your so-called tactics are nothing but a pitiful struggle in my eyes. I can already picture your miserable, defeated expression at mine and Kotomi's wedding!
Hahahahahaha!!
Caught up in her own ntal whirlwind, Aimi felt once again like she had won. Her lips curved up uncontrollably in a smug grin, her adorable face practically glowing with pride.
While both sisters had a bit of a smug streak, at least Aimi wasn't like her older sister—who would get withdrawal symptoms if she didn't read at least one overpowered-protagonist web novel per day, and could whip out cringe-worthy power quotes at any mont.
Otherwise, Aimi might be standing in front of gumi right now, saying things like:
"If the heavens abandon , then the heavens can be deceived. If the world forsakes , then the world must be destroyed. Abandoned by the heavens and the world—let all creation perish, gods crumble, past and future intertwine, and I alone remain undefeated for eternity!"
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. Don't you dare look down on a girl just because she's broke!"
"I, Aimi Izumi, live my life with no need to explain myself to the likes of you."
Don't be surprised—those were all things Kotomi used to say during her chuuni phase, and even now, her condition hadn't improved much… Naturally, Aimi had morized them just by being around her.
Of course, when Kotomi said the third one, it was always:
"I, Kotomi Izumi, live my life with no need to explain myself. I am the Great Emperor—destined to destroy all enemies of this world!"
gumi looked at Aimi, who was laughing wildly with a bewildered expression. What on earth had just gotten into her?
Maybe because she'd flaunted enough, Aimi eventually reined in her manic grin, cleared her throat, and asked again, "So my sister isn't talking to you now?"
"Not exactly. I just haven't found the right mont to apologize to Kotomi yet. Earlier was a perfect chance, but I couldn't work up the courage… I just hid behind the streetlight and watched her."
gumi nodded as she spoke, still feeling a bit puzzled. Why was Aimi taking such a keen interest in this? Could it be her little sister-in-law had finally grown a conscience and was planning to help her win Kotomi back?
But the mont gumi finished speaking, the cheerful Aimi who had just been internally celebrating their cold war turned stone-faced.
What gumi had just said sounded, to Aimi, exactly like soone who hadn't dared to confess yet but kept making excuses like, "I just haven't found the right opportunity." No!
There's no such thing as a perfect ti or situation. Good opportunities don't magically appear—they're created through courage and taking the first step!
gumi's words had struck a nerve. Aimi felt like she was seeing her past self—the one always waiting for the perfect mont, always disappointed it never ca. Her blood boiled. She gave gumi such a hard slap on the back that it nearly sent her stumbling.
"Aimi, what the—?"
"Don't kid yourself!" Aimi shouted seriously. "There's no such thing as a good opportunity unless you make one yourself. If you don't take the initiative, it'll never co. My sister will never forgive you! Aren't you the type who usually—"
Pretty tough, right? Then go after her! She hasn't gone far—run and catch up to her!"
gumi froze. She never expected that one day she would actually feel encouraged by sothing Aimi said. It was probably the first ti she sincerely thanked Aimi—since Aimi had never done anything worth thanking before.
"That smack on my back just now definitely felt like you were settling a personal grudge... but thank you for what you said. Maybe we really can get along after all. Bye now, little sister-in-law—I'm going after your sister. Don't be late for school; looks like you're cutting it close."
Smiling, gumi took off in the direction Kotomi had gone. She didn't know if she'd catch up… no, she would definitely catch up!
Watching gumi run off into the distance, Aimi blinked blankly. Did she just say sothing wrong? And wait—what did that shaless gumi just call her? Little sister-in-law?!
Aimi instantly realized—everything she just said had helped gumi and screwed herself over!
"Aaaaaah! Damn you, gumi Kato! Get back here—I forbid you from going after my sister!!"
Aimi stomped her feet furiously, but no matter how loudly she yelled, gumi had already vanished from sight.
gumi felt that if this were a sports et, she could definitely place first in the sprints. Long-distance might be iffy, but she had the short-distance down.
"Kotomi probably hasn't reached school yet. Doesn't matter. As long as I see her, wherever she is, no matter who's with her—I'm going to say—"
"Say what to ?"
The rising sun symbolized a new day, but at that mont, what dazzled most wasn't the sun—it was the girl before her.
Her pink eyes reflected her emotions. Her snow-white short hair glowed in the sunlight, as pure as polar snow under the sun—sacred, untouched. Only the breeze stirring her hair proved ti hadn't frozen.
Her stunning face, seemingly carved by the gods, needed no smile to shock the world. Motionless, expressionless—she made ti seem to halt, the Earth to stop spinning.
Kotomi Izumi stood by the entrance to the park they always passed on their way to school. She was like a checkpoint, standing there waiting for gumi to catch up.
gumi imdiately skidded to a stop, gasping for breath. She might look like she had boundless stamina when it ca to Kotomi, but the truth was—gumi was terrible at sports, especially running.
Kotomi just stood there, saying nothing, watching her quietly. Her beautiful pink eyes shimred with srizing hues—but all they reflected now was indifference. No joy, no anger, no smile.
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