My Friend’s Little Sister is Special

“…………”

“Please, could you stop looking at me with those eyes…?”

Even though I revealed that I was Seo Jin-hyuk’s classmate, her suspicion didn’t seem to clear as her eyes, which had been moistly pink until just a moment ago, had somehow changed to a sharp gray gaze.

I should have just kept my mouth shut. Ah, if I had, would I not have been able to walk with her like this now?

I heard the girl mutter quietly, “My brother wouldn’t do that…”

—Hey, it’s really unfair. I didn’t even ask, but Seo Jin-hyuk just told me everything. And during my precious lunch time, too. Because of your brother, I had to eat cold rice. And I mean really cold.

Those words rose to the tip of my tongue, but if I said them, I would transform from an unidentified friend of her brother to an unidentified friend badmouthing her brother, so I pushed them back down my throat.

After that, since I didn’t know where Seo Jin-hyuk’s house was, I was quietly following alongside the girl as she walked, but there was no conversation between us.

Part of the reason was that the girl was being cautious toward me, like a cat hissing, but the biggest reason was.

—I don’t know what to say.

I had a sister at home and a few female friends, so dealing with the opposite sex wasn’t difficult, but in a situation where I was under suspicion like now, anything I said would seem like I was pestering her, which made me uncomfortable.

While pondering what to say, I suddenly remembered something our family’s piggy had said before.

‘Hey bro, when you don’t know what to say to girls, ask them if they know Faker.’

‘Huh? Do girls even know Faker? Isn’t it just you being weird?’

‘What are you talking about! All my friends like him too!’

I believe you, Han Se-ah…!

“Do you happen to know Faker?”

“No.”

“……”

Shit. You’re dead when I get home, Han Se-ah.

I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m not a goldfish with no ability to learn, so why am I regretting saying things so many times in just one day?

I might be imagining it, but the air seemed even more suffocating than before.

By the way, was Seo Jin-hyuk’s house near mine? The way back is exactly the same as the way to my house. As I was walking on this familiar road with an unfamiliar companion, I spotted a self-service ice cream shop that I often visited.

‘Bro, no matter how angry I am, when I eat delicious ice cream, my mood just melts away smoothly. You have to remember that. Got it?’

‘What are you saying? Why should I?’

‘………’

‘Argh…! Hey, that really hurts, it hurts, you pig…!’

Tsk. Damn brat. My side still seemed to sting from where she pinched me then.

Can I trust her this time? If I fail again and things get even more awkward, I think I’ll have no choice but to run home.

Since the source of the information was Han Se-ah, who loves eating so much, I was doubtful, but I was getting thirsty now, and I had no credibility left to lose, so with the mindset that I had nothing to lose, I opened my mouth.

“Want to stop by there for a moment?”

When I pointed to the ice cream shop, the girl’s eyes followed my finger.

Oh, they’ve changed.

“…Why?”

Her eyes, which had been gray until just now, had changed to a sky blue color.

—This is really fascinating.

I could somewhat understand how Seo Jin-hyuk felt when he said his sister was special.

What is this girl feeling right now? What was she feeling just earlier? I wanted to ask her directly about her feelings.

If I had known her a little better, I would have been able to tell what she was feeling right now. I felt a moment of regret.

“Just because it’s a bit hot?”

“It’s only April?”

“…I like ice cream a lot.”

“I don’t have any money….”

“I’ll buy it for you. Please come with me.”

This really isn’t easy. Is she really Seo Jin-hyuk’s sister? While I was recalling the always-smiling Seo Jin-hyuk in my mind.

Fortunately, the girl seemed to like the idea, as she nodded slightly and took small steps toward the store.

**

I got melon-flavored ice cream, and the girl got chocolate-flavored ice cream.

After finishing our payment in the store, each holding an ice cream, we came outside to continue our journey home.

Why does today feel so long?

As I secretly grumbled to myself and bit into my ice cream, a deliciously cool sensation spread throughout my mouth.

Wondering if she was enjoying hers, I glanced to the side and saw eyes that had now turned yellow.

“Is it good?”

Curious about what she might be feeling now, I asked, and startled by the sudden question, the girl jumped slightly and looked toward me.

—She’s really like a cat.

“…A little.”

For someone saying that, the corners of her eyes were noticeably turned down until just before I spoke to her. Anyone could see you had a happy expression because it’s delicious, you know.

I wanted to tell her that, but knowing this cat would probably go into defensive mode again, I held back firmly.

But still.

Seeing the girl fidgeting and watching my reaction, as if she felt what she said wasn’t quite right, I couldn’t help but want to tease her a little. Just a little. Well, of course I couldn’t help it. I bought her ice cream, so that much is okay, right?

“Just a little?”

I knew it was petty, but I lowered my head with a disappointed voice, and soon the girl’s figure appeared, not knowing what to do and fumbling.

…This is definitely effective.

“Ta, tast…!”

“Hm?”

Soon after, as if she had made a big decision, the girl grabbed the hem of her dress tightly with one hand and opened her mouth.

“It’s tasty-yo…!”

“Tasty-yo?”

“Ugh, no, that’s not it…! I-It’s tasty…!”

“Thank you….” she added in a voice so small that it would be inaudible unless I listened carefully, as she bowed her head to me.

As if to prove that she had done her best to express her true feelings.

When the girl raised her head, her face, which had been as white as snow until just now, was now flushed, her eyes had turned pink, and her ears, slightly visible through her hair, had turned bright red.

Watching all of this, I was feeling 1% self-reproach for what I was doing to my friend’s sister, and.

……Isn’t this too cute? That feeling was 99%, creating a miraculous ratio in my heart.

Seo Jin-hyuk. I admit it. Your sister is indeed special.

This was already the second time I’d acknowledged this today.

And pink.

I think they were also pink when I first saw her earlier.

The common point between the current situation and earlier might be… perhaps pink appears when she’s embarrassed?

While I was inwardly rejoicing that I had finally figured something out, a voice, sounding a bit tenser than before, reached my ears.

“Are you upset…?”

“Huh? No, no, sorry. I just got distracted looking at your eyes….”

“My eyes…?”

The girl made a small “Hah!” sound and then hurriedly covered her face with her tiny hands, just like when we first met.

What’s this? What is it? Give it back, please.

“…? Why the sudden reaction?”

“I’m sorry…. My eyes are strange, aren’t they…?”

“Huh? No? They’re really pretty.”

“Everyone says tha— Wait, what?”

“No, they were all pretty when they changed to different colors, but the pink color suits you so well that I couldn’t help but keep staring. Should I say I understand why Seo Jin-hyuk told me his sister was special? Since we’re on the topic, I’m curious—is pink possibly the color that appears when you’re embarrassed? Oh right, I’m not sure if I can ask this, but what emotions do yellow and sky blue represent—”

“Wait, wait, hold on a moment…!”

Ah, I’ve messed up. Seeing my chance, I got carried away without realizing.

The girl seemed overwhelmed by my rapid-fire speech and just lowered her head without saying anything.

After a few seconds of silence, the girl raised her head, carefully lowered her hands that had been covering her face, and met my eyes.

“It’s not strange…?”

“What is?”

What exactly is strange? Perhaps my manner of speaking as if out of breath?

“My eyes…. Since they keep changing color and all….”

“Not strange at all. Rather, I’ve been curious, since earlier.”

“Wh-what are you curious about…?”

“About what emotions you feel when the colors change.”

“My emotions…?”

“Yes. I want to know.”

I exhaled before continuing with “because-“.

“It’s like your eyes are honestly telling me your emotions in that moment. I can’t help but want to know.”

When I finished speaking, I felt relieved. This much should make it okay to ask about her eye colors, right?

Thinking that, as I looked at the girl, I noticed one change.

“Huh?”

“Hiccup. Wh-what is it…?”

As I took a step closer to see the change up close, the girl hiccupped and took a step back.

“They’ve changed.”

“Wh-what has…?”

“Your eyes. They were pink before, but they’ve become deeper.”

They had definitely been a light cherry blossom pink until just now.

But now, how should I put it? They were still pink, but more like the deep pink of a succubus’s hair in an adult game… that kind of intensity.

I wanted to look closer.

But every time I took a step forward, the girl took a step back, so the distance between us didn’t narrow.

As we continued this game of magnets, silently looking at each other, the girl soon stretched her small hands toward me.

“S-stop…!”

“Can’t I look up close?”

“N-no, you can’t…!”

I thought she’d just say she didn’t like it.

When she said I couldn’t, I had the bad thought that if I asked just once or twice more, she might permit it.

But seeing her extending her hands desperately toward me with her eyes tightly shut, I couldn’t help but smile and decided to stop.

However, just this one thing.

“Pink is the color that changes when you’re embarrassed, right?”

“……I won’t tell you.”

She won’t tell me about this.

That’s unfair.

It was only later that I learned.

That at that time, the girl didn’t deny it.