34 Questions - My Little Sister Is Only Ever Cold to Me, Yet Recently She’s Been Strangely Clingy

Chapter 34: Questions Monday's classroom is enveloped in a unique atmosphere—an amalgamation of the lingering weekend high and a sense of laziness towards the upcoming week. I was decidedly the former, still riding the wave of my carefree weekend mood. As I was organizing my textbooks with a buoyant heart, Yuka-chan peeked over. "Good morning." "Good morning. You look a bit sleepy, don't you?" "Yeah. There was just too much going on, and I couldn't really sleep." "What kind of things?" "Well, that’s something to talk about later." Yuka-chan looked off into the distance. There were dark circles under her eyes, unusual for someone usually so carefree. If there was something bothering her, I'd like to give her some advice. "If you're okay with it, I'd be happy to listen." "...Thanks. But I’m fine, it's mostly my own problem, or rather, I'm getting all mixed up with all the stuff about my favorite, you know. But it’s manageable for now. Anyway, how was your outing with your little sister? Did you have fun?" "We did! Thanks for picking out my outfit, Yuka-chan." "Oh, you're welcome. I’m honored to have helped my cute Ai." Yuka-chan quipped playfully with a laugh, and I felt a quiet relief at her usual demeanor. "What did you do over the weekend, Yuka-chan?" "Oh, well, I spent time with Shimamoto-san." "Really? Where did you guys hang out?" "…We sort of just walked around the area." "Oh, I see! You two have gotten quite close, haven't you?" "Well, it's like, yeah. Here and there." Her answer seemed to conceal a hint of embarrassment, and I smiled. Though Yuka-chan is sociable, she tends to keep a certain distance from other people besides me, so it was heartwarming to know she’s found someone to spend time with on the weekend. Moreover, the fact that it's someone from Ren's team, a friend of hers, makes it seem like such a small world. Although, Shimamoto-san does have feelings for Ren, but that's another story altogether. For now, I want to focus on being happy for Yuka-chan making a new friend. While contemplating such things, a thought occurred to me. "Yuka-chan, are you free this weekend?" "I am." "Actually, Ren asked me to come watch her club’s game. Would you like to come too? Shimamoto-san will probably be there." "I think I’ll go." Yuka-chan seemed hesitant for a moment at my invitation, but eventually nodded in agreement. "Great! I’ve never been to one of Ren’s club games before, so I was a bit nervous. But with you there, Yuka-chan, I’ll feel better." "…Ai, you’ve become really close with your little sister lately, haven’t you? You went on a date the other day and now you're cheering at her games." "Oh, um, yeah. I guess so. Her rebellious phase seems to have eased up quite a bit." For some reason, I was flustered when Yuka mentioned the word "date." Even though I knew I hadn't done anything wrong. Besides, there's something slightly off about Yuka-chan’s demeanor. It’s like there’s a certain urgency or questioning tone to her voice. Maybe she was worried about something after all. As I pondered this over, another question was thrown my way. "I know this is impossible, but Ai, do you ever think about your little sister…" Before she could finish, the bell rang. Yuka-chan seemed to come to her senses, and then quickly shook her head. "Sorry! Never mind! Just forget about what I said." With her usual cheerful smile, Yuka-chan returned to her seat. For some reason, I was relieved that she didn't continue with her previous question. From then on, Yuka-chan remained the bright, kind self she always is, and that particular thread of questioning was never picked up again.