Chapter 24 Little Seaweed Showing Off: How Did You Know Risa Would Buy Me...?

Kirihara returned home fuming, his seaweed-like curly hair standing on end, looking like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

He sensed something was wrong even before the tennis club activities were over.

The girls outside the court whispered and stole glances at him, their backpacks dangling familiar chibi charms; Niou went even further, pinning a "little devil" badge to his team uniform collar and deliberately waving it in front of him during practice.

The most despicable one is Senior Liu! She actually asked him while holding a notebook, "Based on market feedback, do you prefer maid outfits or Lolita dresses?"

"Risa-nee, you're finished!" He kicked open the door, his shoulders shaking with rage. "How dare you ruin my image..."

The roar abruptly stopped.

Under the warm light of the entryway lamp, displayed the limited-edition sneakers he had always dreamed of. Also on display was a professional racket—the very one he would stop and stare at for ages every time he passed a sporting goods store. Its price was also over six figures.

Next to the shoebox lay a folded greeting card. Unfolded, a round, cartoonish seaweed-headed figure made a face at him, next to which was Risa's distinctive, neat handwriting:

To: The best little brother in the world!

P.S.: Don't be too touched~

Anyway, I bought all of these with the money I made from selling your merchandise. Hehe~ (O'v'O)

——Pear yarn (pear monogram)]

Anger was thrown to the back of his mind all at once, replaced by excitement and exhilaration that made the boy tremble slightly.

He clutched the greeting card tightly, his ears burning. After a long pause, he managed to stammer, "...at least tell me beforehand."

Just at this moment of emotion, he noticed a line of small print at the bottom of the greeting card:

[PPS: If I dare to fail the next English monthly exam, I'll make 100 copies of this card and plaster them all over the Rikkai University bulletin board.]

The excited little balloon had a small hole punctured, and it deflated little by little. But it wasn't a big problem; his joy and excitement were like a super big hot air balloon.

Kirihara Akaya rushed upstairs in three strides, stopped in front of Risa's door, and knocked, saying:

"Risa-nee?"

After knocking several times, no one answered.

A mother's voice came from downstairs: "Aka, Risa went to celebrate with her classmates and said she won't be back until later."

"Whoa~" Kirihara rushed downstairs and eagerly pulled out his phone.

He carefully placed the new sneakers and racket in the most conspicuous spot in the entryway and took photos from several angles.

[Rikkaidai Tennis Club Regular Player Group]

Kelp is not a vegetable: [Image] [Image]

Kelp isn't a vegetable: What?! What?!

Seaweed isn't a vegetable: How did you guys know Risa-nee bought me the latest shoes and racket?!

Yukimura Seiichi: What a wonderful gift! ^_^

Marui Bunta replied almost instantly:

I'm a genius: Wow~ Isn't this the limited edition set?

Genius is me: Wait... could it be that I bought it with the money from selling your merchandise?

Liu Lianji followed closely behind:

Data-driven: Based on market prices, this equipment costs approximately 300,000 yen.

Data-driven: It seems your merchandise sales are really good.

Jackal Kuwabara:

Barbecue is the ultimate treat: (Silently watching.jpg)

Barbecue is the best: Nice shoes

Barbecue is supreme: but it's nothing more than red...

Barbecue Supremacy: Are you sure you want to take my fiery lash while wearing new shoes? [fire]

Seaweed is not a vegetable: Ahhh, Jackal-senpai, no!!

Seaweed isn't a vegetable: These shoes are very expensive!!

I'm a genius: Hahahahahaha

I'm a genius: @BBQSupreme Well done!

I'm a genius: But Akaya's fried chicken nuggets are still mine~

Genichiro Sanada:

Deputy Minister: This is far too lax!

Vice Minister: Since it's my sister's thoughtful gesture, we should train even harder. [Arms crossed, nodding.GIF]

Niou Masaharu suddenly popped up:

Conman: Puri~ Little seaweed

Fraudster: Does your Risa sister need another younger brother?

Yagyu Hiroshi:

Gentleman: [Adjusting glasses.jpg]

Gentleman: I suggest you prepare well for the next English monthly exam.

Gentleman: According to reliable sources, there will be "special punishment" for failing.

Kirihara Masaru typed a reply with smug satisfaction, but when he saw the words "special punishment," he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

He scratched the seaweed head, glanced at the shiny new equipment, and finally grinned.

"Mom!" he called towards the kitchen, "When is Risa coming back?"

The mother peeked out from the kitchen, looked at her son's well-behaved appearance, and couldn't help but smile: "She said she went to a barbecue restaurant with her club members to celebrate, and she probably won't be back until very late."

Kirihara nodded, then looked down at his phone.

In no time, the group chat became lively.

Fraudster: puri~

Fraudster: @BBQSupreme Next BBQ Team Building

Fraudster: Remember to call Little Seaweed to pay the bill.

Barbecue Supremacy: Hmm

Barbecue Supreme: A new Brazilian barbecue restaurant just opened.

Barbecue is the best: Akaya treats us

(At this moment, the group chat started spamming "Akaya is treating" emojis.)

Data-driven: extrapolating from consumption levels

Data-driven: Around 5000 yen per person

"Seaweed is not a vegetable: You're extorting me!!"

Seaweed is not a vegetable: I'm going to tell Risa-nee!!

Yukimura Seiichi: ^_^

A simple emoji brought the flood of comments to an abrupt halt.

Barbecue Supremacy: ...Just kidding.

Barbecue is the best: Good luck with training!

(Jackal silently retracted his statement about "5000 yen per person")

-

At 10 p.m., the streetlights illuminated the alley entrance with a warm yellow glow.

Risa, carrying takeout of grilled meat and takoyaki, turned the corner, humming a tuneless rendition of "Renai Circulation"—

Wow!

A boy with a seaweed-like hairstyle suddenly darted out of the shadows, startling her so much that she almost threw the takoyaki as a projectile.

"Akaya?!" Risa patted her chest, her heart pounding in her throat as if she were about to dance the tango. "What are you doing here? You scared me to death!"

The boy lowered his head slightly and kicked the pebbles with the toe of his new sneakers, as if trying to punch a hole in the ground.

"Um..." A muffled voice escaped from between her hair, "Thank you, Risa-nee."

Risa deliberately tilted her head and leaned closer: "Hmm? The wind is too strong, I can't hear you."

"I said thank you!" Kirihara suddenly looked up, his hair standing on end like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "Sneakers and racket..." He didn't finish his sentence before drooping back down, but the tips of his ears honestly turned red.

"Pfft—" Risa reached out and ruffled the dark, seaweed-like hair. "When did our Akaya become so formal?"

The paper bag rustled, and the aroma of grilled meat mingled with the savory scent of takoyaki sauce wafted out.

"Are you hungry? I brought you some grilled meat and takoyaki. Special edition, though!"

Kirihara Akaya's eyes suddenly lit up. The streetlights reflected in his emerald pupils, creating shimmering golden light.

“…Thank you, Risa-nee.” The boy took the heavy bag, his voice much lighter this time.

"Idiot! Why are you being so polite with your older sister?"

The two walked side by side on the moonlit path, the night breeze rustling through the alley.

"Risa-nee..."

"Um?"

Why?

"Why what?"

Why are you so good to me?

Risa stopped in her tracks. Moonlight fell on her profile, casting dappled shadows on her eyelids.

She suddenly pinched Kirihara's cheek, her smile gentle: "Because you're my cutest little brother~"

"So cute!"

She drew out the last syllable: "Upright, kind, polite, and naive, just like the innocent and sweet heroine in a novel. What if I don't treat you well and someone else steals you away?"

"Hey! Don't say such cheesy things."

Kirihara turned his face away, and his ears turned red at a visible speed.

"Oh my, she's also very easily embarrassed." Risa laughed heartily.

Kirihara stomped his foot: "Don't laugh."

"Okay, okay~ I won't laugh." Risa pretended to hold back her laughter.

Hold on.

You must resist the urge.

I just couldn't hold back anymore.

...

"Pfft, hahahahahahahaha~"

Chi Ye: "..."

The moonlight was like water, and their shadows overlapped on the stone path. The night breeze swirled fallen cherry blossoms, gently brushing against Risa's temples.

In the distance, the lights of Kanagawa flowed through the night, like a fallen galaxy.

As Risa gazed at the city bathed in silvery light, her thoughts drifted away.

If in the previous life—

If that truck hadn't run a red light, if her parents hadn't had the accident, if her brother hadn't been diagnosed with that damn genetic disease;

If her Best Actress award had come three years earlier, if the astronomical advertising fee had arrived before her brother's genetic disease worsened, if "ifs" truly existed in the world...

Perhaps at this moment, in that world's high school classroom, her real younger brother would be just like Akaya, jumping up and down excitedly for a pair of sneakers, scratching his head for the English monthly exam, and laughing carefree while fighting with his teammates for the last piece of fried chicken.

Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs".

After regaining her memories of her past life, she registered a blog account and wrote many entries.

[April 3, 202X, Sunny]

[Young man, have you ever thought that this world is actually a comic book?]

[April 6, 202X, Sunny]

[I passed by an elementary school today and saw some kids playing "Red Light, Green Light." It suddenly reminded me of a certain silly kid who always runs away after counting to two, and when caught, he pretends, "Sister's eyes are playing tricks on me."]

[April 17, 202X, Cloudy]

[Buy one get one free strawberry daifuku at the convenience store. If you were here, you'd definitely grab both and then share half with me.]

[April 202X...]

Each entry in her diary contained secret codes known only to her and her brother: secretly breaking her mother's foundation when she was little; the sparrow's nest outside ward 603; and even the last time they met, when he seemed to have a premonition and said to her, "Sister, you must live well with my share..."

Countless nights, tens of thousands of refreshes.

There was no response. No, it should be said, there was no response she wanted.

A night breeze swept by, bringing a slight chill.

Risa's eyes stung, and she instinctively hugged her arms tightly.

"Risa-nee?" Akaya stopped and looked at her, his emerald eyes clear and bright. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing." Risa tilted her head back, letting the night breeze carry away the moisture from her eyelashes. "I just think the moon is really beautiful tonight."

"Huh?" Chi didn't understand either, tilting his head in confusion.

Following her gaze, she suddenly pointed to the sky: "Ah! Risa-nee, look! It's an airplane flying at night."

Risa looked in the direction the boy was pointing. A white line streaked across the sky, tearing a fleeting crack in the inky black firmament.

Like a trivial regret that once existed on some timeline.

-----------------------

Author's Note: I heard it made it onto a good chart, but the number of favorites didn't increase, making it a disgrace to the charts. The author said sadly. I cried loudly, writing while watching the village's matches to heal myself.