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

Chapter 43: Obsession Amidst the gaps in the rainy season, the shift to summer had begun. It was a ordinary day, just before the weekend. That is, until Ren's actions started to change everything. Today, Ren was acting strangely. For instance, when I was preparing dinner and sautéing vegetables in front of the frying pan, Ren returned home after club activities and rushed over to me without even uttering an "I'm home." Instead, she hugged me, whispering from behind in a sort of back-hug posture. "Onee-chan." "What’s gotten into you all of a sudden!?" "Nothing in particular." Her voice was the usual cool tone, but her actions said otherwise. Ren pressed her face into the nape of my neck from behind. It was as if she inhaling me, taking deeper breaths than usual. Her warm breath tickled my ear. "Um, Ren, this is kind of ticklish." "Bear with it." Ren said this bluntly, tightening her embrace. As if screaming on my behalf, the stir-fried vegetables sizzled in the pan from the heat. Wrapped in Ren's warmth, my heart pounded, trying to assert its presence. Every beat ached, and everywhere her touch reached felt unbearably soft. I wanted to surrender myself to that feeling forever—but I swallowed it down and forced myself to say, "Dinner will be ready soon. Go get changed." "...Okay." It took about ten seconds after responding before Ren finally let go. I watched her retreating back as she left the kitchen, puzzled by her unusual behavior. Even during dinner, Ren was acting odd—scooting her chair so close that our bodies nearly touched. "Isn't this a bit too close...?" "This is normal," she insisted. Though Ren claimed it was normal, it was clearly different. All throughout the meal, her body was beside mine. I was so distracted by the outline of her body heat against my skin that I couldn't taste the stir-fried vegetables at all. The closeness continued after dinner as well. Whether I was washing dishes or folding laundry, Ren stayed glued to me, never wanting to let go for a even moment. She was always by my side, either helping out or suddenly hugging me randomly. It reminded me of when she was younger, trailing me everywhere like a little shadow. But what enveloped me wasn't childish cuteness but a strikingly sophisticated allure. The contrast between her childlike behavior and the beauty that touched me made my head spin. And now, as I settled back into the living room recliner, it was natural for Ren to fit snugly on my lap. The feel of her smooth skin and warmth made my heart race, and I felt nearly suffocated. The overwhelming happiness felt similar to pain—a sensation I tried to escape with words directed at Ren. "You're being really clingy again today." "It's because I have camp starting tomorrow. I need my fill of Onee-chan, or I might die." "Isn’t ‘die’ a bit of an exaggeration...?" "It’s not." Ren stated firmly. Just as before, she turned around to face me directly. Her eyes locked onto mine, and my field of vision was filled solely with Ren. And just like that, a world for just the two of us was easily formed, her words sweetly resonating. "I never want to be apart from Onee-chan, even for a moment." Her straightforward attachment to me, expressed with her usual emotionlessness, made my head boil. Those words were very similar to the promise we'd made long ago, and my heart tightened with joy. It should have been enough to just say that I was happy and that I felt the same way. That was all I wanted. Yet, another thought surfaced in my mind. Then why did you leave me once before? This lingering, twisted attachment turned into a question mark. I'm her big sister, so I should be able to forgive something so fleeting. Yet that notion crept into my mind, and it tried to slip out of my mouth, between the gaps in my rapid heartbeat. However, before those words could take shape, Ren’s gentle and sweet words sealed them. "So, when I arrive at the camp, would it be okay to text you?" Saying this, she hid her embarrassment by burying her face in my chest. The cuteness of Ren’s actions, the overflowing affection made the ugly question mark vanish in an instant. My twisted obsession transformed into love, and I wrapped Ren in gentle warmth as I responded. "Of course. I’ll be waiting." Ren expressed her joy at my reply, rubbing her cheek against my chest like a kitten seeking affection. I smiled and softly stroked Ren's head.