"Leave my side."
"Live independently."
This was the first time Gray had heard Naoki say such things.
'Leave Big Brother's side.'
Those words, spoken lightly by Naoki, hit Gray like a sledgehammer, striking her heart and mind with devastating force.
She had never considered this possibility.
"Brother…"
"Hm?"
"Are you trying to kick me out?" Gray asked, her voice tinged with fear. "D-did I do something wrong?"
Was the housework not done properly? Was there a spot she missed while cleaning? Did the food she cooked back home not suit his taste? Or was there something that upset him? Something that made him dissatisfied?
Seeing Gray's sudden panic, Naoki grew bewildered. "Why ask that? Did you do something wrong?"
Honestly, Naoki had never once felt dissatisfied with Gray. Gray was the cutest little sister in the world—no, an angel! If Naoki had any psychological trauma, just being near her would probably heal it instantly.
Not to mention, Gray woke him up every day, helped tidy his messy room, and prepared three delicious meals for him…
How could he be dissatisfied with a Gray like that? Even a thousand thank-yous wouldn't be enough!
"Then, then why do you want to kick me out?"
"Kick you out?"
Naoki was even more confused.
"Why would I kick you out? When did I say anything like that?"
"N-not like that? But you just said you wanted me to leave your side… Is it because you're going to marry Sister Merry, so…"
Seeing Gray's anxious, clearly panicked expression, Naoki quickly pulled her to a nearby chair, sat her down, and patted her head. "Calm down, Gray. I'm not kicking you out, and this has nothing to do with wanting to marry Merry. It seems we're talking about different things. What's going on with you?"
[Wasn't it you who said something that made this idiot misunderstand?]
Add hopped around angrily.
Something like that?
"What did I say?"
[About telling this dumb Gray to leave your side! Sometimes your brain is seriously out of order!]
"Is that it, Gray?"
Rarely, Naoki didn't argue with Add's mockery. Instead, he asked Gray with concern.
Gray nodded slightly, clutching Naoki's sleeve tightly. "Brother, are you trying to kick me out?"
"No way, you misunderstood. I absolutely don't want to kick you out. I even want you to stay with me—how could I kick you out? Didn't you say it yourself? I can't live without you."
At those words, Gray instantly felt relieved, her restless heart calming down.
Thank goodness Brother wasn't kicking her out.
"Then… why did you say I should leave?"
"Well, you can't stay by my side forever, right? You're only ten now, and we'll be together for a long time, but one day you'll grow up and leave me, like a baby bird that eventually leaves its parent to fly on its own."
Naoki gently stroked Gray's small head through her hoodie.
"You can't always be with me, can you? Of course, I don't mind, but you'll have things you need to do—"
"I want to stay with you forever!"
Gray suddenly interrupted Naoki, her eyes showing a seriousness he'd never seen before.
"Brother, I understand what you're trying to say, but even so, I don't want to be apart from you. I want to always be with you! Even when I grow up, I want to always, always be with you!"
This was the first time Gray had expressed such a strong personal desire in front of Naoki, and the first time she spoke to him with such emotional intensity.
Gray's nature was gentle, kind, innocent, friendly, and a bit naive and scatterbrained. Naoki was used to her usual demeanor, so this sudden assertiveness caught him off guard.
"B-but Gray, you can't always be with me, right? That… oh, right, if you get a boyfriend someday, you won't be able to stay with me—"
"I won't look for one." Gray shook her head. "I… I just want to always take care of you, because you're the one who can't live without me. So I'll always be by your side to look after you."
This wasn't an absolute truth.
But it wasn't a lie either.
As for her own feelings, young Gray didn't yet grasp their essence, only vaguely aware of their existence and nature—perhaps similar to how Brother felt about Sister Merry?
Well, with Gray's foolish nature, she might never seek a man to start a family, even until the end of the world. Besides, with her troublesome personality, perhaps only Naoki could tolerate it.
"Is there anything troublesome about Gray's personality?"
[You saying that means you're completely used to her quirks! God, this guy's usually so smart, but in the end, he's still dense—no, like a steel rod!]
Add was genuinely curious why there was such a straightforward man in this world, especially one with such strong appeal to women that he himself didn't notice! If he had even a fraction of Add's or Merry's cunning, Naoki would probably be sleeping in a different bed every day by now!
Seeing Add fall silent after its rant, Naoki scratched his head and turned back to Gray. "Gray, you said you don't want to leave me…"
"Yes!"
Gray hugged Naoki's arm tightly.
"No way! I only need you, Brother!"
'Ah, this…'
Naoki was at a loss. Gray's dependence on him made him happy, but she couldn't rely on him forever, right? If this continued, wouldn't it eventually veer toward German bone surgery (an overly close sibling relationship)?
Gray's mother and teacher would skin him alive!
"Gray, let go for a sec—your hug's making my arm hurt."
"You're lying, Brother. I'm not using any strength at all." Gray suddenly became unusually sharp. "Does it bother you if I stay by your side?"
"No way…"
[You've practically spoiled her to the point of uselessness, and you're talking about being bothered?]
A brief silence followed. Naoki sighed, as if giving in. "Hah, you win, Gray, really… I won't say things like that again, telling you to leave me. If you want to stay with me forever, then stay."
"Yes, I'll always stay with you, Brother." Gray smiled. "Wherever you go, whatever happens in the future, I'll always be by your side."
'Because I'm your little sister.'