Chapter 18: Big Sister
Aijin stirred lightly in his bed, the headache from earlier still lingering in his temples. In the half-light of the morning, a shadowy figure appeared in his dream, whispering, "Just leave me already." He jerked awake, heart pounding, sweat beading on his forehead.
It was just a dream… but the unease didn't fully leave him. He sat up, rubbing his eyes, feeling a mix of relief and lingering irritation.
Before he could gather his thoughts, a familiar voice broke the silence.
"Oh hu, Aijin!"
He turned sharply, and his eyes widened. "Big Sister Reina?"
"Long time no see," she said with a bright smile.
Aijin blinked, still startled. "But… what are you doing here?"
"To visit you guys, silly," Reina replied, tilting her head teasingly.
Aijin frowned, an odd expression crossing his features. "Seriously?"
"Oh, come on, Aijin. Don't you want to welcome me properly?"
He sighed, giving a reluctant nod. "Ok, ok."
They talked for a while, catching up and exchanging light-hearted jabs, until Shuna appeared, calling for Reina.
"Sister, Mom is calling you."
"Coming," Reina said cheerfully. "Ok, Aijin, see you later."
"Okay," he replied, a small smile tugging at his lips.
---
Meanwhile, in Yasmine's apartment, . Finally, we're back." Yasmine's Mom said.
Yasmine blinked at it. "So… we were there just for a day?"
"You don't understand, Yasmine,"her mother handed her a poster and said, giving her a knowing smile.
---
Later, at Aijin's apartment, Reina poked her head in.
"Aijin~"
"What is it, Sis?" he asked warily.
"Let's go shopping for some groceries," she said cheerfully.
"Eh…."
---
At the supermarket, Aijin followed Reina, still slightly skeptical.
"Sis, I wanna ask something."
"Go ahead."
"Why do we have to shop here if we could just go to a local grocery store?"
Reina rolled her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips. "Aw, don't be like that. I just want some quality time with my little brother."
Aijin raised an eyebrow. "Quality time? Don't you get quality time with your husband?"
"Please, don't talk about that old geezer," she replied, shooing him playfully.
He shrugged. "Okay…."
Her expression softened suddenly. "Plus… I know what's happening tomorrow."
Aijin froze. "What?"
"Dad told me, so please… don't overthink too much," she said gently.
"Sister, please stop talking about it. I don't want to hear. We came for shopping, right?"
"Yeah, but—"
"No buts. I don't want to hear anything."
Reina's shoulders slumped, a small sigh escaping her. "O…k."
---
The bustling supermarket was alive with energy, and today something unusual was taking place.
"Yo, ladies and gentlemen!" an announcer's voice boomed over the speakers. "Today we're having a quiz competition! Fifty questions in total, and the winner will receive an 85% discount in this supermarket!"
Aijin groaned. "That's the reason we came… seriously?"
"Well, I know you're good at quizzes, so…" Reina's eyes sparkled with mischief.
"So you dragged me into this?" he asked, half-amused.
"Yeah!" she said, giving a confident thumbs up.
"Fine, I'll participate—but if I lose, you won't complain."
"I won't, but I know you'll win easily," she replied, smirking.
Aijin shook his head. "Overconfidence isn't always good. But fine, I'm participating."
Twenty contenders lined up, each looking determined. Aijin muttered under his breath, What a pain.
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out.
"Aijin!"
He turned. "YASMINE?!"
"Why… are… you… here?" she stammered.
"My sister dragged me," he explained, glancing at Reina. "But why you?"
A flashback revealed Yasmine's mother encouraging her to join the contest. "I'm in," she had said firmly.
"Ah, your mom made you join," Aijin noted, smiling.
She glanced at him, a mixture of surprise and admiration in her eyes. I didn't know Aijin would be here too… and he's really good at quizzes…
The announcer continued, outlining the rules: fifty questions, one point per correct answer, minus one for incorrect answers, and no sharing of prizes. Whoever pressed the buzzer first got the chance to answer.
"Are you ready?"
Everyone nodded.
---
"First question: which district was the permanent capital of the 8th century?"
Aijin pressed the buzzer immediately. "Nara."
"Correct! One point," the announcer confirmed. "Next question: which country won the first-ever football World Cup?"
Again, Aijin was first. "Uruguay."
"Correct! Mr. Kuroya is on fire right now," the announcer cheered.
Yasmine thought, At this rate, he'll win…
The next question: "Who was the first Tokugawa shogun?"
Aijin answered quickly: "Tokugawa Ieyasu."
"Correct."
Yasmine missed again. I won't lose next time… she vowed.
"What was the name of the earliest known culture on the islands of Japan?"
This time, Yasmine pressed first. "Jomon."
"Correct! A new challenger emerges."
Both stared at each other, tension rising.
---
After 49 questions, the score was tight: Aijin 12, Yasmine 12, with other contenders trailing behind.
The final question: "How long did World War II last?"
Aijin pressed first.
"I got this," he thought, noticing Yasmine's focused expression.
"Four years," he answered confidently.
"Incorrect!" The announcer declared. "The correct answer is six years. Negative one point for Mr. Kuroya. The winner is… Yasmine Mizuno!"
"I won!" she exclaimed, disbelief and joy mixing on her face.
---
During the prize giveaway, Yasmine received the 85% discount coupon, still in shock. Aijin received a 40% discount as the runner-up.
"Better than nothing," he muttered, smiling.
They found a quiet corner, away from the crowd.
"You answered the last question wrong on purpose, didn't you?" Yasmine asked.
"You caught me," he admitted, smirking.
"But why?"
"First, I wasn't interested in winning. Second, I noticed you were worried."
Again he predicted me… she thought, feeling a mixture of admiration and exasperation.
"I won't make it easy next time," he added.
"Same here," she replied, determination sparkling in her eyes.
Reina appeared, looking at them curiously. "Aijin, there you are. And who is she?"
"She is my classmate, Yasmine Mizuno," he explained.
"Nice to meet you," Yasmine said politely.
Reina smiled. "So you won the first prize. And what are you doing here with Aijin?"
"I was congratulating her," he replied.
"Oh ho. Anyway, let's finish our shopping. Nice to meet you," Reina said warmly.
---
They finished shopping together, Reina teasing and laughing along the way.
"Sister," Aijin said quietly at the end.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry for my rude behavior earlier."
She waved it off. "Nah, it's fine. I'm your sister, after all. Don't mind Mom's words."
"And… this competition wasn't as boring as I expected," he admitted, a small grin forming.
Reina's thoughts drifted, a knowing smile on her lips. Oh hu… I think someone is in love.
Even in moments shaded by worry or frustration, Aijin found ways to create happiness, bringing warmth to those around him.
---
Later, Yasmine returned home, arms loaded with bags.
"Welcome back…" her mother said, eyes widening at the sheer number of items.
"Hehe," Yasmine replied, struggling under the weight of seventeen shopping bags, a bright smile on her face.
---
[End of Chapter 18]