April 14, 2023. Friday. 10:06 PM. I'm fifteen. Kai-chan is fourteen.
Kai-chan's home. It's an hour by train from Minami-Osawa to Shinkodaira in Kodaira City, where my mother rented a small white wooden apartment with only four rooms after she left home.
“I hate the name Kairi. If it were Airi, it would be so much cuter.”
Kai-chan's room is a four-and-a-half tatami mat Japanese-style room, immediately to the right after entering the front door. Kairi's room. A cute nameplate, made by Kai-chan himself, is pinned to the wall—although that's probably not allowed since it's a rental. The room is so fanciful that you wouldn't even know it was originally a Japanese-style room. A pink carpet, pale pink curtains, and four character cushions from the theme park we visited together at Tama Center are lined up.
…In such a room, my delicate younger brother, with his short wolf-cut hair, looked down and spoke. Kairi–Kai-chan. My little brother. My cutest little brother in the whole world. The brother I've been protecting. I must protect everything about Kai-chan. Read the latest chapters at novelping . com.
“But that dress really suits you. As expected, there's no mistake in what your big sister picks.”
When I smiled at him, my little brother, wearing a pink bear dress, blushed with embarrassment and gave a shy smile.
“Really? You think so… It's too childish, though.”
“Not at all, Kai-chan. This is always you. It's your trademark. It suits you so well. It's very much like you, and I love it.”
“Really? …Okay… Thank you, Onee-chan… Oh, by the way, since last month, I've been allowed to wear a skirt at school.”
My adorable little brother looked down, embarrassed. An angelic smile. It's my favorite face in the whole world.
Since entering junior high, Kai-chan had been wearing a boys' uniform. Both my mother and Kai-chan had been advocating for a girls' uniform. Finally, it came true. I'm so happy I could burst. Kai-chan's school's sailor uniform is quite popular, even in our local area of Kodaira, and he would often talk to me about how much he admired it.
“Hey, Onee-chan.”
At that moment, my beloved little brother blushed and quietly spoke. Then, looking at me, he said:
“I… I think I've fallen in love.”