This is not the date I wanted.

As expected, Liuli sighed, put the snacks on the table, sat next to Liu Kui, and complained somewhat dissatisfiedly.

Perhaps because there were so few people, Liuli felt like a loosened rubber band and suddenly became a lot lazier.

Seeing this scene, Rokuko suddenly remembered that although her sister always looked straightforward and cheerful in front of her, she would change into a well-educated and well-behaved girl in front of strange guests and elders.

(As expected...a sister is still a sister.)

Feeling inexplicably relieved, Rokuko looked at Liuli and asked curiously.

"Sister... Miss Liuli is not good at cooking?"

"Yeah. We practiced, but Mom and Dad had weird looks on their faces after eating. Hikaru ignored me the whole day after that, even though we've been married for so long. I'm really... Eh? Akie-chan! That's not the case!"

Halfway through her words, she suddenly realized that she had let down her guard in front of Rokuko, and she quickly sat up straight and explained with an embarrassed look on her face,

"It's not like I fail every time. I succeed sometimes."

(Yes, I have succeeded in making instant noodles in three minutes.)

Rokuko added silently in his heart.

"I'm telling the truth! If you don't believe me, look, I took photos."

Seeing that Rokuko obviously didn't believe her, Rokuli's face suddenly turned red. In order to save face as an elder, she quickly picked up her cell phone and took out a photo of a sumptuous meal.

Of course, except for the vegetable salad on the corner of the table, all other dishes were made by her husband.

Looking at the photo in front of her, Rokuko's expression became slightly solemn. She did not pay close attention to the food on the table. Compared to those things, she was more concerned about the strange man in the picture who was wearing an apron and taking a photo with his sister.

"Ms. Liuli... the man in the photo is..."

"Ah... that's my husband..."

Liu Li answered a little embarrassedly. The light from the ring on her left ring finger was so dazzling.

"I see..."

Rokuko managed to squeeze out these words with great difficulty. Although he had known this for a long time, he still felt uncomfortable and suffocated when he heard his sister admit it herself.

"Is your husband...here now?"

"Ah, no. My husband is on a business trip and will probably be back in a few days."

After hearing Rokuroku's answer, Rokuroku secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps Mengyue and Shidou could choose a different time. If she met the man who married her sister here, she would not be confident that she could remain rational.

(No... at this point... how can Liu Er have the face to say anything about this...)

Rokuko thought dejectedly.

Looking at her sister's happy smile, Rokuko knew that her husband loved her very much and that this was a happy marriage.

She chose to escape and abandoned her sister and parents. What right does she have to be jealous of each other or to prevent her sister's happiness?

(Liu'er... doesn't want to hurt others anymore.)

"Akira-chan is living in Tiangong City now, right? Has anything changed there?"

Liu Li asked curiously.

"That... probably changed a lot."

After adjusting his mood, Rokuko thought for a moment and answered in a low voice.

"There are more paved roads and more places to play. There are aquariums, movie theaters, game halls, and a large shopping mall in the city center that sells a lot of things. I heard that... Sister Chunyue said that in order to maintain the popularity of the shopping street, events such as big eating competitions are often held... However, there is no change in the Tiangong Tower."

"Hey... the Tiangong Tower is still there." When Liu Kui mentioned the word 'Tiangong Tower', Liu Li's eyes showed a trace of nostalgia, and he said with a smile, "I used to go there to play with my classmates when I was in school. The view from the top of the tower is very beautiful, right?"

"Uh-huh……"

Rokuko just nodded, obviously not wanting to elaborate on this aspect.

"Ms. Liuli used to live in Tiangong City, right? Why did you move here?"

"Well... there's no special reason." Liu Li scratched his cheek and explained, "You see, starting five or six years ago, the frequency of space earthquakes in Tiangong City has been abnormally high? My parents have poor legs and feet due to their age, so it's not convenient for them to run to the air-raid shelter every time they take refuge. And I just happened to quit my job to take care of the children at home, so I decided to move back to my hometown."

"I see."

"But to be honest, if possible, we would like to continue living there." Liu Li smiled bitterly and explained, "How should I put it? When I was packing my luggage, I always felt like I forgot to bring something important. After checking several times, I moved here."

“…That must be an illusion.”

"That's true. After all, this is the home I've lived in for more than 20 years, so it's hard not to feel reluctant to leave. Sorry, Akira-chan, for saying something strange."

"fine……"

Rokuko replied.

——Wow——Wow!

Suddenly, a sound similar to crying came from his ears, and Rokuko frowned in confusion.

"There seemed to be the sound of a child - no, a baby crying."

"Ah, come to think of it. It's almost time to change the diaper."

After hearing what Liu Kui said, Liu Li seemed to have thought of something and stood up and walked towards another room.

Out of curiosity, Rokuko followed.

Following Liu Li into a bedroom, a burst of exaggerated crying was coming from a cradle.

"Good boy~ Yao~ Good boy~ Don't cry~ I'll change your diaper right away."

Liu Li changed the baby's diaper with skillful movements and then held the baby in her arms.

Soon, with Liuli's comfort, the baby stopped crying and calmed down.

"Um... who is this child?"

Rokuko asked in confusion.

"Yao!"

At some point, Tsukikawa Hikaru had run to Rokuko's side, pointed at the baby in Rokuko's arms, then pointed at himself, and said very proudly.

"Light's sister!"

Rokuko understood the situation a little. Indeed, Mengyue once said that her sister had given birth to two children.

"Is her name Yao?"

"Well, Yuechuan Yao, just turned one and a half years old."

Carefully holding the baby in her arms, Liuli nodded gently.

"Guang, can you go to the kitchen for me and ask grandma to prepare the milk powder for Yao to drink."

"I understand! Grandma——"

After Guang saluted to show his understanding, he trotted off to the kitchen.

"Um...can I touch it a little?"

Looking at Yao with sparkling eyes, Rokuko couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.

"Well, of course."

After getting Rokuli's permission, Rokuko swallowed and stretched out his fingers carefully as if he was facing a fragile work of art.

The index finger moved little by little at a snail's pace, and finally Rokuko's finger touched Yao's face.

(So ​​soft... just like rice cake...)

Liu Ku couldn't help but sigh in his heart. The life in front of him was so immature, just like a thin paper window that would be punctured if he wasn't careful.

Afraid that this little life would get hurt because of his carelessness, Rokuko slowly removed his fingers.

“Wow—ah—”

However, Yao, who had just woken up, seemed to be interested in Rokuko. He raised his arm and grasped Rokuko's index finger with his small hand.

"It seems that Yao likes you very much."

Liu Li said with a smile.

"Do you like it..."

Repeating his sister's words, Rokuko stared blankly at his fingers that were being held.

It was as if I had established a connection with this tiny life, and an indescribable feeling welled up in my heart.

I want to bless her, I want to protect her, I want her to grow up safely and live a happy life.

[One day, you will learn how to love your family.]

(Ah…I see.)

Recalling what Shidou once said, Rokuko suddenly understood the true nature of this feeling.

(This is... the love Liu Er received from his sister and parents...)

It is not the kind of love between men and women, nor is it the possessive desire to possess it, but a blessing that is not mixed with any selfish desires and exists to the extreme.

(My sister, my parents, and I must have felt the same way when they adopted Liu'er.)

"Yao."

Calling the baby's name softly, Rokuko smiled gently and offered his blessings.

"Grow up healthily."

Rokuko adult (final)

==============================

After that, Rokuko, Shidou, and Mengyue spent three days together in this remote countryside.

In order to avoid arousing suspicion, the three of them stayed overnight at the Awashima family under the arrangement of Kotori, and then as soon as the sun rose, Rokuko would get up impatiently and visit the Tsukikawa family accompanied by Yumezuki and Shidou.

Sometimes, Rokuko would accompany Guang to various corners of the village to play and explore; sometimes, she would accompany her father and Mengyue to play chess and chat; sometimes, she would come to the kitchen to learn cooking from her mother and Shidao; or, she would accompany her sister and take care of the baby Yao with her.

She was very happy! And very happy! It was as if time had gone back to the past, as if her sister and parents had not forgotten her, and she had never left this home, and her peaceful life continued as it should.

"Wow, I vaguely noticed it when I first saw it, but it's incredible when I actually touch it. Akie-chan, your hair is so beautiful."

Standing in front of the dressing mirror, Liuli combed Liu Kui's long golden hair and couldn't help but speak in admiration.

"Thank you for the compliment. Sister Liuli's hair is also very beautiful."

With a sweet smile on his lips, Rokuko said happily.

Liuli smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"Don't be so modest. I, your aunt, am completely ashamed compared to you. It must have taken a lot of effort to grow your hair so long and maintain it so well."

"Well, because this is my most precious treasure."

Rokuko said affirmatively.

"That's it."

Hearing Rokuko's words, Rokuli smiled slightly.

"It's incredible. When I'm with Akie-chan, I always feel a sense of intimacy. It's as if we are a family."

"Yeah……"

"Yeah. If possible, I really want to comb Akie-chan's hair every day."

Carefully combing Rokuko's long hair with a comb, Rokuko sighed as she couldn't let it go.

"..."

Rokuko lowered his head speechlessly, and his hands involuntarily exerted force, wrinkling the hem of his skirt.

(If possible, Liu'er also hopes that her sister can come and comb Liu'er's hair every day.)

However, she could not confide her thoughts to her sister. She knew that she no longer had the qualifications to do so.

"Finally like this - done!"

She deftly tied Rokuko's two strands of long hair into a bun, and looking at her masterpiece, she nodded with satisfaction.

"Are we going back to Tiangong City today?"

"Yes."