“Sister, come over here~”
Guiyue gently shook the hairdryer in her hand, gesturing for me to walk over.
“I already told you, I can dry my own hair. You’re not seriously treating me like a kid, are you?”
Blowing my hair, whether with hot or cold air, is never comfortable.
If it weren’t for keeping Guiyue from figuring out I’m a reincarnator, I wouldn’t even bother.
As for why I don’t want her to know I’m a reincarnator, I just have this gut feeling that if she found out, something weird would happen.
“If there’s any spot I missed, let me know, okay?”
Guiyue turned on the hairdryer, blowing my hair while combing it with her hand, chatting with me as she worked.
“Your hair’s so nice, smooth and soft—way better than mine. I’m so jealous.”
“I told you, don’t talk while drying my hair! You’ve been blasting hot air on one spot for too long—my hair’s gonna catch fire!”
“Hehe, my bad.”
Ugh, even after being reborn, her clumsy personality hasn’t changed one bit.
She’s such a little sister!
“And please, stop ‘accidentally’ nudging my back with your elbow while drying my hair.”
I’m wearing a backless top, and Guiyue’s in short sleeves, so her touches are skin-on-skin, which makes me super uncomfortable.
“No big deal, I already touched all the places I should and shouldn’t while scrubbing you in the bath earlier.”
Guiyue played it off casually, giving another light nudge, trying to act cute to get away with it.
Oh, come on!
If I let her get away with this, where’s my dignity as the older sister?
“I said, don’t touch there! Rua!”
“What? I can’t hear you—the hairdryer’s too loud. What did you say, Sis?”
“Don’t touch me.”
“What? Touch you more?”
Alright, I get it.
She’s pretending to be deaf on purpose.
“Hehe, I’ll stop teasing you. It should be dry now.”
Guiyue giggled, letting go of my hair, but not before giving my head a playful rub.
“Ugh, stop treating me like a kid and patting my head! I’m the older sister here!”
I puffed out my cheeks to show my frustration.
“Okay, okay~ You’re the big sister~”
As she said this, Guiyue ruffled my hair again.
“Tch, I said stop rubbing my head! And what’s with that tone, like you’re talking to a child?!”
I put my hands on my hips, glaring at her indignantly.
Seeing how serious I was, Guiyue just gave a soft smile and didn’t say anything more.
Ugh, what’s with that smile?!
I’m just not fully grown yet.
Give it a few years, and I’ll be a towering six-footer again!
“Whatever, I’m done with you. You’re such a bully. I’m going to draw.”
I started to get off the bed to head to my computer desk, but Guiyue quickly stopped me.
“Wait, wait! Don’t go. It’s rare for us to spend time together, so stay with me a bit longer, please?”
“Ugh, no way. All you do is tease me.”
I shot her a look and tried to head to my desk again, but Guiyue grabbed me once more.
“Come on, I’m starting school soon, and then I won’t get to see you as much.”
Hearing that, I thought about it and realized she had a point.
So, I put my drawing plans on hold for now.
“Fine, since you put it that way, I’ll hang out with you.”
Well, it’s a good chance to bond.
Sure, we got closer during the bath and when she fed me, but that was in a weird direction!
I want to build a normal sisterly relationship with Guiyue, and chatting with her might be a good opportunity.
Besides, I was just planning to practice drawing today, and I don’t have any commissions due.
Practice can wait one more night.
“Hehe, you’re the best, Sis~”
Guiyue beamed with a childlike smile when I agreed.
Looking at her happy grin, I gave her an exasperated look.
Such a little sister.
“Alright, if we’re chatting, let’s set the mood. I’ll turn off the lights, and we can sit on the window seat and talk. A dark setting is perfect for a heart-to-heart.”
“Sounds good, Sis~”
With Guiyue’s approval, I turned off the room’s lights.
The bright rented apartment dimmed instantly.
But the streetlights outside cast an orange glow through the window, their soft reflection creating just the right amount of dimness in the room.
I glanced at the window seat, where Guiyue was sitting with her knees hugged, looking out at the world.
Her cheerful smile had somehow turned into a melancholic expression.
Seeing my little sister like this, as someone who used to be her brother and is now her sister, I couldn’t help but be concerned.
“What’s wrong, Guiyue? Is something on your mind?”
I walked over to her and sat on the other side of the window seat, facing her.
“Sis, now that you’ve moved out for work, we’ll have less time together. Do you think our relationship will drift apart?”
Guiyue kept staring at the distant cityscape, the warm light reflecting her worried expression.
So, she’s afraid that after my reincarnation, we’ll grow distant again?
I can’t guarantee that our relationship won’t change with time and circumstances, but I don’t want to end up like in my past life, where we became strangers.
I’ll do my best to keep that from happening.
For now, though, I need to comfort this little one.
She’s so grown up, yet she acts like a kid sometimes.
Such a little sister~
I leaned toward Guiyue, gently ruffling her hair with my small hand, and said softly with a smile:
“No way. No matter what happens, I’m your sister, and you’re my sister. Our relationship won’t drift apart just because I’m working. Plus, didn’t you say you’d come over to cook for me often? That way, we won’t grow distant from not seeing each other.”
Guiyue turned to look at me, and I looked back at her.
We sat there in silence, gazing at each other for a good ten seconds.
For some reason, after my words, Guiyue’s eyes grew more intense.
Finally, she couldn’t hold back and spoke first.
“This familiar feeling… Could it be, Brother?”
Her eyes and tone were full of anticipation, waiting for my response.
Facing her at that moment, I didn’t say anything.
I just nodded quietly, a faint smile on my lips.
“That’s… That’s amazing! Even though you’re a girl now, we finally have a chance to start over.”
Guiyue buried her head in my chest, tears streaming from her eyes.
I pulled out a tissue I always carry, wiped her tears, and looked at the girl in my arms with a warm smile.
“So this time, our relationship won’t grow distant like before, okay?”
I gently hugged Guiyue, a helpless smile on my face.
Such a little sister~
I had a feeling it was better not to let Guiyue know I’m a reincarnator, but when she asked, I nodded without thinking.
Still, it doesn’t seem like a bad thing that she knows now.
At least, that’s what I’m thinking.
After that, neither of us spoke.
We just held each other, quietly feeling the warmth of the other’s presence…