Chapter 119: Boss, Carry Me, Please!
"I don't know why, but I feel so comfortable around you, Kou-nii," the little loli said, blinking her bright blue eyes, her voice carrying a soft sweetness that made it hard to tell whether she was teasing or being honest. "And you know, it really surprised me when Onee-sama suddenly suggested coming to the hot spring today. At first, I thought she'd been possessed or something! Usually, she's either making me practice kendo until my arms go numb or forcing me to sit in front of the piano for hours. Then today, she just suddenly turned all nice and said, 'Let's go relax.' I couldn't believe it!"
As she spoke, the little girl puffed up her cheeks until they looked like steamed buns, glaring off dramatically. "Turns out I was just an extra! She didn't even plan to take me at first!"
"So, Kou-nii, you should totally go after Onee-sama! You have my full support!" she declared, her eyes lighting up mischievously.
Wait—what kind of nonsense flag was this supposed to be?!
Why the hell is this little sister so enthusiastic about selling out her own sibling?!
"Because if you go for her, she'll stop nagging me every day! And besides..." Hinata's voice softened as her eyes lowered. Her playful expression faded, replaced by something gentler. "She won't have to be alone and exhausted all the time anymore."
The tone was quiet and almost fragile, but Kouya caught every word.
Exhausted? That elegant, composed shrine maiden… tired? Somehow, that image didn't fit in his head.
Hinata quickly looked up again, her playful grin returning, the little fang at the corner of her mouth glinting. "In anime terms, my sister's totally a 'black-haired goddess onee-san' type—graceful, reliable, the kind of woman who gives off both danger and warmth! Her 'married woman power' is MAXED out! Sure, she can be sarcastic and bossy, but she's amazing at housework, can cook anything, and always smells so good after a shower!"
"..."
"Kou-nii, you just have to be brave! If you like her, confess already!"
Sorry, but I have zero romantic interest in your sister.
"If you can't win her over, just drug her! Worst case, you go to jail! If you're too scared to risk that, you'll never win her heart!" Hinata whispered with frightening confidence, leaning closer like a shady mentor passing on forbidden techniques.
WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL?!
Did she just tell me to drug her sister?!
When did this cute little loli turn into such a corrupted creature?!
What happened to the shy, innocent Hinata from before—the one who used to cling to her sister's sleeve and shyly say 'good morning'?!
"You've got a fever or something?" Kouya asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
"Nope! It's just that I can't say this kind of stuff when Onee-sama's around!" she said proudly, puffing up her tiny chest.
Ah, so that's what they mean when they say women are born actresses.
Kouya sighed, reaching out to flick her ear lightly—just enough to make her squeak. "Finish your yogurt and go take a bath already."
The little girl tilted her head, looking up at him with a knowing smile. "Hey, you shouldn't use the ear-pulling move too early. Onee-sama's got a strong personality—unless you're super close, she'll totally blow up if you try that."
What is she, a cat? Go ahead and show me how she 'blows up.'
Hinata puffed her cheeks again and lectured him like a self-proclaimed dating expert. "You've gotta go with the classics! The head-pat or the wall slam! They always work, no matter the era!"
Being lectured on romance by a ten-year-old—yeah, this must be what rock bottom feels like.
"Even if she decks you afterward, it'll still leave a deep impression in her heart! Totally worth it!"
Sorry to disappoint, but your sister doesn't have the punching power to knock me out. And I'd rather not leave that kind of impression.
"Enough already," Kouya groaned.
"Eh? Why?" Hinata tilted her head, looking genuinely curious.
He sighed and muttered, "Because your stockings look really nice today."
"..."
Silence blanketed the room like a curtain.
Hinata froze for a second, her tiny hands clutching the hem of her dress as her face slowly turned crimson. After a long pause, she whispered shyly, her voice trembling, "W-well, I don't hate you, Kou-nii… but I'm still too young for that kind of thing…"
Hey! That's not what I meant! Don't look at me like that!
Kouya's face darkened instantly, but Hinata only grew more panicked. She quickly pulled down her skirt, shaking her head in embarrassment. "N-no! Not now! At least let me drink more milk first! I have to grow boobs like Onee-sama's before anything like that happens!"
You've got to be kidding me! Drinking milk doesn't make them grow! That's like believing in magic papayas!
"Um, if Kou-nii really likes stockings that much, I could…"
"What was that?" Kouya narrowed his eyes.
Hinata blinked innocently, then stuck her tongue out. "Nothing~! I'm going to the bath now!" And with that, she dashed away, her little footsteps echoing down the hall.
Ah, the wind's awfully loud tonight.
...
After the perverted loli fled, Kouya let out a sigh and returned to his book. The quiet of the villa settled around him again, broken only by the faint rustle of pages and the hum of the lights above.
He wasn't sure how much time had passed before a familiar voice drifted from behind him. "Kouya, are you busy right now?"
Turning around, he saw none other than the lazy angel herself—Gabriel.
She looked freshly bathed. Her damp hair was tied up carelessly, and faint wisps clung to her cheeks. Her fair skin glowed pink from the heat, soft and smooth like mochi. For once, she actually resembled an angel instead of a walking disaster.
"What do you want?" Kouya asked, not even looking up for long.
"Nothing~ I just felt like chatting," Gabriel said, her voice light and oddly gentle.
Kouya's grip on his book faltered.
Something's definitely off. Since when does Gabriel talk like that?
The lazy angel smiled faintly, leaning on the couch's armrest, and for a brief second, she looked almost… normal. It was terrifying.
He squinted. "Did you take the wrong medicine or something?"
"You're the one who needs medicine!" she snapped, instantly reverting to her usual tone. The sweetness vanished like smoke. "Oi, you free right now? If so, come play a game with me!"
Ever since her fall from grace, gaming had become her new religion. Sadly, she was terrible at it—comically bad. Whether it was gacha games where she wasted money or competitive games where she got stomped repeatedly, she always managed to lose spectacularly.
Eventually, she discovered the ultimate lifehack: find someone skilled and cling to them for dear life.
That someone, naturally, was Kouya.
He played like a machine—disciplined, efficient, and frustratingly responsible. Two hours a day, always logging off at nine-thirty sharp.
Nine-thirty. Nine. Thirty.
To Gabriel, that was an insult to gamers everywhere.
Who the hell stops gaming at nine-thirty?! Have you never known the sacred thrill of all-night grinding?!
No matter how much she begged, bribed, or guilt-tripped, Kouya never gave in.
But tonight, fresh from the hot spring and feeling recharged, Gabriel was determined to succeed. She'd drag him to play—or perish in the attempt.
"There's a huge game room down the hall," she said, her voice full of excitement. "It's like a gamer's paradise! We have to try it out!"
When he didn't reply, she clasped her hands together, putting on her best puppy-dog eyes. "Boss, carry me, please! I'll even make you lunch tomorrow! Handmade!"
Kouya stared for a moment, then finally sighed. "Fine. Let's go."
The villa was enormous, a luxurious maze of polished wood and glass. Beyond the main living room and study, it housed a gym, a karaoke room, and even a high-end gaming lounge.
The gaming room was breathtaking—sleek metallic walls, soft ambient lights, and the faint fragrance of sandalwood lingering in the air. In the center sat a massive circular sofa surrounded by ten high-end PCs, each glowing with colorful LED lights like a futuristic arena.
Gabriel's eyes lit up like twin stars. "So cool! Let's climb the ranks tonight!"
They powered up the machines, logged in, and the familiar theme music filled the room. The screens flickered to life with vivid colors as they entered the matchmaking queue.
"Huh? Someone's username is 'Invincible Iron Bull'?" Gabriel tilted her head. "What a dumb name."
Dumb?! Do you even realize that in Taiwan, Optimus Prime is literally called Invincible Iron Bull?!
Speaking of Taiwan, their movie translations are a whole other story. Like how Pan's Labyrinth got turned into Labyrinth of the Goat God! He's not even a goat, for crying out loud! You owe Pan an apology!
And The Shawshank Redemption? Renamed Exciting 1995! What is that supposed to be, a soap opera about midlife crisis and cheating husbands?!
Just as Kouya opened his mouth to retort, a soft, composed voice sounded from behind them.
"Kou-kun, are you playing a game? I wonder… would it be alright if I joined you?"