Chapter 1 and 2: It’s Still More Comfortable to Call You Brother
The atmosphere became a little awkward.
Keling ignored me, and the two of us just stood there facing each other, not knowing how to continue the conversation.
When I was angry just now, I lectured her. Now that I’ve calmed down, I regret being so impulsive.
After standing in the cold wind for about ten minutes, Keling finally spoke first.
“…That’s strange, it’s the first time someone has lectured me like this…”
“Hmm? Zi’ai has never lectured you?”
This is really strange. If I had lectured Keling before, Zi’ai should have had the same experience. The difference between us was caused by the Yata no Kagami. Based on previous experiences, they were roughly similar, something we had mutually confirmed.
This is really strange… Could it be because Zi’ai is a girl and not as fierce as me, so it doesn’t seem like a lecture?
“Sister Zi’ai has always been very good to me…”
“Is that so…”
“So, I hate you. You took my sister away, touched my chest, and yelled at me.”
“….”
This “hate” really hit home…
“I’m sorry…”
“Alright, you don’t need to apologize anymore… I’ll ask you one more time, do you really not know where your sister is?”
“Yes, after I got off the plane, I came straight here. I went to your house to find you, but you had moved. I also heard from the neighbors that Zi’ai had disappeared, which panicked me for quite a while.”
“After Sister Zi’ai disappeared, our whole family moved abroad. Because she disappeared abroad, my parents thought we could find her near the place where she disappeared. But I don’t think Sister Zi’ai is necessarily in this city.”
Hearing Keling say this, my spirits immediately lifted. That’s right, Zi’ai disappeared overseas, so my parents moved abroad. Then why did only Keling stay behind?
“Why do you think that? Do you have any clues?”
“Because I saw her…”
“Saw her?! You mean you saw Zi’ai! When did you see her! Where did you see her!”
In my excitement, I tightened my grip on Keling’s shoulder again. She frowned and showed a pained expression.
“Ugh,…..”
I quickly let go, but my heart was still as anxious as ants on a hot pan.
“Ah, sorry, I just…”
“It’s alright, I know you’re worried about your sister too. That was about a year ago. After my sister disappeared, our mothers flew over first, and then my father followed. Only my sister Xinran and I were left at home.”
When their daughter disappears, of course, the parents would be anxious. Thinking about it, in my original world, I had also “disappeared.” My parents must have been very worried. Moreover, with such a major abnormal event happening, the whole world was probably in chaos. I don’t know if the organization could suppress this matter. Even if I worried about that world now, it would be useless. The most important thing was to find “her”… Zi’ai! She is the only clue now!
“Then one night, because I was lonely, I went to sleep in Sister Zi’ai’s room and saw her.”
“She appeared in her own room?”
Not the bathroom? But her own room?
“In what state? Was she wet?”
From Zi’ai’s previous two transmigrations, they all happened in places with water. Even I transmigrated to this world, crawling out of the water. So if that was really Zi’ai, she should have been wet.
“Wet? I don’t know… Because I don’t remember very clearly, I still can’t distinguish whether it was a dream or reality until now.”
So it was just a dream…
I showed a look of disappointment. Keling noticed but continued to speak.
“But I really saw her… Sister was standing in the room, gently touching my forehead with her index finger and saying, ‘Keling, please keep this for me. Don’t lose it.'”
At that time, I vaguely agreed and then lost consciousness. When I woke up in the morning, I found this thing placed on my body…
“What thing?”
Keling reached into her chest… Suddenly realizing something, she glared at me and turned away with a red face.
Was it hidden in her chest? Does it mean it’s safer to keep it close to her body…
“Here, it’s this.”
“This…! !”
Seeing the thing in Keling’s hand, my eyes widened abruptly, because it was too recognizable… Its peculiar shape, it was definitely that thing!
A Magatama!
Looking at the emerald green Magatama in front of me, I was confused again. Does this world also have the same thing? Or is it something else with a similar shape… No, if this Magatama is genuine, it’s undoubtedly an anomalous item. But in this world without anomalies, this thing shouldn’t exist.
“But… Keling, you have to be careful.”
“Okay, I understand.”
After taking the Magatama from Keling’s hand, I closed my palms and felt its temperature before saying.
“It feels quite warm…”
“Of course! I always carry it close to my body, tucked in my cleavage… What am I saying! You pervert!”
You said it yourself. No, I wasn’t checking the warmth caused by body temperature.
I closed my eyes and began to spread my Spiritual Power, sensing the Magatama in my hand. The temperature in my palm also continued to rise, but it wasn’t hot to the touch. Only when I felt a certain vibration did I open my eyes again and open my palm. The Magatama had turned orange-red, with a layer of flames burning around it.
…What is going on! Hey! It’s burning! Your hand!”
“It’s fine, these flames won’t burn people.”
“Huh? Are you kidding me? Wait? It really doesn’t hurt!”
“It’s true…”
This Magatama is real, which means that Zi’ai also returned from the original world, and it was not Keling’s dream. But if Zi’ai returned, why didn’t she go home to see her family? Where did she go? And why did she give this Magatama to Keling?
While I was thinking, Keling asked me.
“You know this thing?”
“Yes, this Magatama was originally mine. I didn’t expect it to appear here.”
Seeing me nod, Keling’s expression relaxed, and tears welled up again. But this time, they were tears of joy, not grievances.
“So it wasn’t a dream… That’s great… Sister is okay… So good…”
“Yes, Zi’ai is fine. I just don’t know why she didn’t come home or even notify you.”
Keling wiped away her tears and replied.
“It’s okay, as long as we know she’s fine… We were all afraid that Sister was really dead and we would never see her again.”
“…Ah…”
Just then, the bell signaling the end of lunch break rang. We had to go back to class.
“Here, take it back. Keep it safe.”
I tried to return the Magatama to Keling, but she shook her head and said.
“You keep it. Didn’t you say it was originally yours?”
“Eh? Is that okay? But your sister wanted you to keep it…”
“Yes, I never knew why my sister wanted me to keep this Magatama… Today I finally understand. Perhaps it was for ‘returning to its rightful owner.'”
“Then I will keep it. I will continue to look for your sister. Keling, you too, tell me immediately if you have any news.”
Keling nodded, indicating her willingness to cooperate. I looked at the Magatama in my hand again. It had already turned emerald green. I hoped this would be a clue to finding Zi’ai. With that thought, I put the Magatama around my neck and hid it inside my clothes.
Seeing me put the Magatama around my neck, Keling’s face flushed again for no reason. Perhaps to hide it, she put on a mischievous smile and narrowed her eyes, asking me.
“Speaking of which, what is your relationship with my sister? Are you really her boyfriend? Is this Magatama a love token between you two?”
If anything, it should be a love token between me and Lianbing. However, speaking of the relationship between me and Zi’ai… What is our relationship?
To say we are friends and family seems a bit wrong. To say we are boyfriend and girlfriend, but it doesn’t seem to have the passionate feeling of lovers… We are just very familiar with each other, so familiar that we can instantly know each other’s emotions and thoughts. It’s very natural to get along, and we don’t feel awkward even without talking. How should I put it, like an old married couple?
“How should I put it, Zi’ai and I are soulmates, close friends.”
“…Then this fate is really strange. You and Sister Zi’ai look so alike. I suspect you could even impersonate Sister Zi’ai if you wore women’s clothes.”
“Cough, cough, cough…”
“So, should I call you brother-in-law?”
Uh, I’m not used to ‘brother-in-law.’ You can just call me ‘brother.’
“Heh~ Call you brother? Well, I guess that’s okay. Then I’ll call you brother. Mhmm… The class bell has already finished ringing? Brother~”
Although she called me “brother” in a rather affected way, Keling calling me brother still felt more familiar. I felt like I had regained some of the past familial feelings. I couldn’t help but smile, took Keling’s hand, and said to her with a smile.
“Yes, let’s go back quickly, Keling.”
“…Mhmm… Mhmm!”
She’s shy… but she didn’t shake off my hand. It’s a strange feeling. I’m the one taking the initiative to hold Keling’s hand, and Keling is the one who’s shy. This is completely the opposite of the original world.
After school ended, because I was a transfer student and hadn’t taken any tests yet, I didn’t have a ranking, so I didn’t need to attend the evening study session and went straight back to Nana’s house.
A lot of things happened today. I thought it would be a peaceful campus life, but unexpected events still occurred. Most importantly, I met Keling, and a series of things happened. I obtained important information and a magical item. So, from now on, my main goal will be to find Zi’ai? Before that, I still need to support myself and Xiao An…
