Chapter 14

During the summer vacation, there is a troublesome family gathering.

Children usually spend most of their time together, but there is my nemesis there.

"Brother~! I've missed you so much!"

The one who clung to my brother was my aunt's daughter, Kuratou Ririna, who is one year younger than me.

In other words, she is my cousin.

"Riri, I've missed you so much. Why didn't you come to see me, Brother?"

"Because I was busy with school."

"Ah, but I wanted to see you! In return, you have to stay with me all day today!"

...

"Sure. Reika can join us too."

Ririna, who had been completely ignoring me, finally turned to me.

"Oh, Reika, you're here."

"Good afternoon, Ririna."

I was right here, next to my brother, firmly!

You deliberately pushed me away when you hugged my brother, didn't you?

Damn, this girl is not cute at all!

Ririna is an only child and has always wanted an older brother, so she has been very close to my brother since childhood.

By the way, I, the older sister, am apparently not needed.

Hmph.

"Hey, Brother. Let's chat over there. Riri, I have so much to talk about with Brother."

Saying that, she pulled my brother away.

I was left all alone.

Patience, patience. I am an adult. I am an adult.

It's not mature to get angry at a younger, spoiled cousin.

After all, it's just for one day, so it doesn't matter. I'll lend him to her. My brother!

"Reika, come over here."

My brother turned around and called me.

Oh, Brother!

My enemy cleverly chose a two-seater sofa and secured a spot next to my brother.

The conversation was all about Ririna's boasts.

Where she went, what she bought, and how she was praised at a recital.

My kind brother listened to her with a smile.

"Ah, I wish I could have gone to the same school as Brother. Then we could have been together all the time."

Ryuan Elementary School has a one-hour commuting time limit for admission, so Ririna couldn't attend.

Honestly, I'm relieved. I would never want to go to the same school.

Ririna's boasting continued.

Completely ignoring my existence.

When I first met Ririna, I tried to be friendly with her as a younger cousin.

However, she saw me as an obstacle from the first glance and has been hostile ever since, so I eventually gave up on being friends.

Oh, I've been ignored, insulted, and bullied so much.

At least I try not to fight back, but I can't stop the silent eye contact battles.

My brother, with his cool and gentle appearance and kind personality, is of course popular with the other children in the family, except for Ririna.

As more children gathered around my brother, Ririna's mood plummeted.

She glared at everyone.

Among them, the distant cousins in middle and high school are Ririna's biggest rivals.

Some are genuinely infatuated with my brother, but some seem to be aiming for the position of the heir of the Kishu-in family, as if encouraged by their parents.

"Kiki-sama, it's been a while. Do you remember me?"

"Of course, I remember. Kasumi."

"I've been looking forward to seeing you, Kiki-sama."

"Is that so? Thank you. Maya, you look well."

"Hey! I'm talking to Brother! Don't butt in!"

Ririna barked while clinging to my brother's arm.

"Ririna, you're still the same. Don't trouble Kiki-sama too much."

"What are you talking about! Brother wouldn't be troubled! He loves Riri! Don't say such things! Go away!"

Ririna threw a tantrum.

It would be best to ignore her childish outbursts, but everyone is annoyed by her spoiled behavior to some extent, and they want to seize the precious opportunity to get closer to my brother, so the older girls often clash with Ririna.

"Kiki-sama, I don't understand some of my summer homework. Can you teach me math?"

"Huh? Ask your tutor or a private teacher!"

"I didn't ask you. Kiki-sama, is it okay?"

"Um, sure. I can help a little. If anyone else has homework, let's do it together."

"Brother!"

"Does Ririna have her homework? If not, why don't you read a picture book over there?"

"What! I'm too old for picture books!"

The younger children were scared by Ririna's argument, so I called them over and let them play with the toys I had prepared.

Women's fights are scary, so I quickly withdrew from the battlefield. Good luck, Brother.

Let's play some easy card games, shall we?

"Ririna, calm down. You can sit next to us, but you have to be quiet."

"But! Brother is Riri's Brother! Why are these people here with us!"

Ririna can't stand not being able to monopolize my brother.

"Riri's Brother. Kiki-sama has a legitimate younger sister, Reika. Kiki-sama is Reika's brother."

Ah, that's a forbidden phrase.

Hearing the one thing she least wanted to hear, Ririna trembled with frustration and glared at me for some reason.

No, no, I didn't say it.

"You guys, I won't forgive you! I'll tell Mother!"

She shouted, her face red and tearful, and ran out of the room.

"I'll go talk to Ririna. Everyone, start your homework."

As my brother followed Ririna, the remaining children started complaining.

"What's with her? She needs to stop being so spoiled."

"She's taking advantage of Kiki-sama's kindness."

"She thinks she can tell her parents about anything she doesn't like!"

They exploded with dissatisfaction, having lost the chance to get closer to my brother.

"Reika-sama, you must be tired of being targeted by that girl too, right?"

"Exactly. She was blatantly ignoring you just now."

Oh, the backlash has come to me.

"Well, we don't see each other every day. I don't mind. Ririna is an only child and probably feels lonely."

I gave a safe answer.

If I joined in the gossip, it could cause trouble later.

Since I didn't join in, they looked dissatisfied but continued to badmouth Ririna without me.

Scary.

I should probably try to stop the gossip and support Ririna, being the older one, but I couldn't think of anything good about her, so I pretended not to hear.

This is why family gatherings are exhausting.