Chapter 53 : A heart that has awakened doesn’t forget its promises

After Serena poured out her emotions, she tended to become clingy.

So tonight, we decided to sleep under the blanket together.

“…What should I do? I can’t sleep.”

She blinked and stared at the ceiling, not showing any signs of falling asleep.

“Well, you’ve probably cleared your head from crying so much.”

“I didn’t cry!”

“What? You cried like the world was ending, and now you’re lying?”

“It wasn’t that much!”

After teasing her a bit, Serena’s face turned completely red.

Crying isn’t something to be embarrassed about.

But still, her cheeks were puffed up with a lot of mischief, which made me feel a little mischievous too.

When I pressed my finger against them, they slightly dented, like touching a water balloon.

Hehe.

Serena’s cheeks.

“…If you keep doing that, I’ll bite you.”

I kept pressing her cheeks because the sensation was fun, and Serena raised her eyebrows and started glaring at me.

Oh my.

Our little puppy really might bite me.

Seeing her show her teeth made me think this wasn’t a joke, so I stopped right away.

“Well, since I can’t sleep, do you want me to read you a book?”

Reading books always worked as a sleep aid.

But today, I shook my head, rejecting the idea.

It was the first time she had done this, so I was a little caught off guard, but Serena stared at my eyes and opened her mouth.

“Hold me.”

“Huh?”

“Hold me. I don’t need anything, just hold me tight.”

Ugh, Serena.

When you say things like that, you need to think about how the person listening feels too.

If I open my arms with a shy face, do you think someone like me can just hold you and that’s it?

No way.

No way.

“Alright, here we go, my cute little sister. I’ll hold you tight~.”

I hugged Serena as she asked.

In my heart, I wanted to squeeze her tightly like I would with a doll, but I knew that would make her uncomfortable, so I didn’t.

Instead, I buried my face in her small head, which was showing the top of her hair.

The soft, silvery hair brushed against my nose and tickled a little.

Sigh, ha.

Sigh.

Ha.

Hmm.

Even though we’re using the same thing, it smells like a spring flower, full of fragrance.

I’ve never actually smelled my own hair, so I don’t know what the difference is, but… Anyway, it’s an addictive scent that’s hard to shake off.

“You’re really hopeless… Do you like the smell of a child’s hair that much?”

“What? If I did, I’d have been in prison by now.”

I don’t like children.

I just can’t help myself when I want to tease Serena.

It may seem strange to others, but can’t it be called affection too?

“When you like someone, you’ll understand. You’ll feel like you want to experience everything about them, like you want to share everything with them.”

“…Then why don’t you kiss me?”

“Has she still been keeping that in her heart?”

I just told her earlier.

I told her to save it for the time when she gets married later.

“Even if you throw a tantrum, I’m not going to do it, so just give up, our little lady.”

“I’m not throwing a tantrum. What if I don’t get married?”

“Huh?”

She suddenly said something unexpected, and I was momentarily confused.

What do you mean by that, Serena?

“If I grow up and decide not to get married, will you do it then?”

“…No way. Don’t talk nonsense.”

She kept saying these odd things, so I lightly tapped her on the head.

A future where you don’t end up with a prince?

That’s not even a possibility.

I’ll make sure you end up with him, and for your happiness, I’ll do anything.

“Even so, I’m not going to do it, so you just have to bear with it. But if there’s something you want, I’ll do it all for you.”

“Really? Anything?”

“Yeah, anything.”

Except for ridiculous requests like the one you just made.

“Really? Really?”

“Yeah. Really, really.”

“Then promise me. Let’s hook our pinky fingers.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll do it.”

Her childish way of confirming it made me almost laugh.

She’ll probably forget all about this as time goes on, but seeing her look so serious, as if she was sincere, was so cute.

“I promised. Don’t say anything else later.”

“Got it~. We already hooked our pinky finger.”

As Serena’s finger and mine intertwined, forming a link, I could feel the faint pressure in her hold.

Unlike me, who was deliberately loosening my grip, Serena was holding on with some strength.

It felt like she didn’t want to let go, but that was probably just my imagination.

Probably.

*

As time passed, Ershi fell asleep first.

In contrast, Serena, who had been in her arms, opened her eyes again.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t sleep.

Ershi’s soft and warm chest was more comfortable and cozy than any pillow.

However, once she became aware of her face being against Ershi’s chest, she couldn’t sleep comfortably.

“Mmm…”

It wasn’t that she hated it, but she felt like she wouldn’t be able to sleep easily like this, so she decided to move away from Ershi’s arms for a moment.

Fortunately, the arm that was wrapped around her back loosened, so escaping wasn’t difficult.

She had to be careful not to wake her up, though.

‘This is strange… It wasn’t like this before.’

It wasn’t the first time Ershi had held her like this.

In fact, there were too many times to count.

But back then, she sometimes felt a little suffocated, but not this time.

Even now, after leaving her embrace, she could still feel the lingering warmth of her body and the sensation of her touch, as if it had been imprinted on her skin.

‘Why am I feeling like this? My body feels strange.’

Maybe it was because of the stillness of the night, but her heart kept pounding, echoing in her ears.

Even though she knew it wasn’t supposed to be like this, she could feel it clearly.

‘…I said I would do anything she asks, right?’

Serena knew too.

She knew that Ershi’s words were just a joke.

And she also knew that even without making such promises, Ershi would always give everything for her without hesitation.

Yet, the fact that she had received that vow with her delicate pinky finger made her feel strangely happy.

She didn’t doubt the affection she received.

It was just that she wanted more of it.

Every time Ershi patted her head, occasionally teased her with a shy joke, or spoke awkwardly, an unknown excitement would tickle her chest.

She hadn’t known why it happened before, but now she thought she understood.

Serena was in love with Ershi.

Despite her young age, the feelings she had accumulated over their time together had become proof, leading to a sense of certainty.

‘I want to feel it more. I want to be with you longer.’

They say that when you genuinely like someone, you want to experience everything with them and feel everything they feel.

That was true, but there was one more thing she wanted to add.

That as much as I wish for it, you’ll start wishing for me too.

‘…Sister told me to save it for when I get married.’

At first, she thought she just wanted to feel curious, but now she realized it was an impulse driven by her heart.

Serena, realizing her true feelings, nervously touched her lips before looking at Ershi’s lips.

Her soft lips were gently moving as she exhaled faint breaths while asleep.

The more Serena looked at them, the more they made her imagine things, as if they were so inviting.

Right now, I could probably do it secretly.

Her breathing sounds indicate that she’s deeply asleep.

‘…No. I shouldn’t. If I wake her up, that’ll be a disaster.’

But she had to resist.

She didn’t want to do it secretly from Ershi, and if she got caught, Ershi might start disliking her.

So, she had to endure.

At least for now.

‘Once I become an adult, it’ll be fine. Once I become an adult…’

Serena knew that in Ershi’s eyes, she was still just a child.

That’s why, for now, she had to break that perception.

She had to wait until the time when she could show that she wasn’t just a pure child anymore.

Until she grew up enough that Ershi couldn’t just see her as a younger sibling.

If by that time, Ershi’s perception of her hadn’t changed.

‘No. I can do it. Of course, I can.’

A shiver ran through her at the ominous thought, but soon after, Serena straightened up and pressed her lips tightly together.

‘Sister, I’m sorry. But I don’t think I’ll ever meet someone as good as you.’

Even if she met someone else, even if that person resembled Ershi, her feelings wouldn’t change.

Because of that, she couldn’t imagine a future with anyone else.

The only person who would be in that future was Ershi.

It had to be that way.

“So, for now… I’ll just endure it.”

The fatigue from staying up too late quickly enveloped her body.

As she was about to fall asleep, Serena softly kissed Ershi’s cheek before closing her eyes.

The affection she had only ever received and never given made her head feel hot, and indescribable emotions surged within her.

Joy.

Embarrassment.

And excitement.

These mixed, complex feelings were too much for her to express, as she was still too young, but there was one thing she knew for sure.

This is what it feels like to like someone, she realized.

“Good night, sister. Sweet dreams.”

With a pleasant smile, Serena quietly closed her eyes.

She looked forward to tomorrow, the day she would spend with Ershi.