As I get off the carriage and enter the house, she jumps toward me with a cute smile, which heals me instantly.
The fact that the adorable Michelie is the one I love most still hasnât changed. I pat her head in happiness.
She interrogates me.
ââŠâŠBig sister.â
Michelie calls my name slowly, and with a soft tone, yet I feel a strange pressure.
I gulp.
I wasnât aware of it, but it seems that Iâm nervous.
On her fingertips is a strand of black hair that was on my shoulder. I noticed it as well when she was welcoming me back.
I donât see the point though.
âWhatâs this?â
I donât know what she means. Thereâs something indescribable behind her smile, but I donât know what it is, or why Iâm feeling pressured. Sheâs not just angry. Itâs something else, well, how should I put it?
But staying silent is the worst and most foolish option.
Iâm a genius, and thus I will not resort to the passive and foolish tactic of silence. I have to be resolute and honest.
âWhat do you meanâŠâŠ Isnât it my hair?â
âDonât try to trick me!â
I wasnât trying to trick her, but she shouts fiercely for some reason.
âHuh? WellâŠâŠâ
âThereâs no way itâs yours! Do you really think I canât tell?! Hmph!â
âAh, um, sorry. I donât know whatâs going on, but Iâm sorry.â
Michelie begins to rage. Iâm not scared. In fact, seeing an angel get angry like that is adorable. But I still donât know why sheâs angry.
Iâm sorry, Michelie. I know youâre really angry. I think I know whyâŠâŠ itâs because I couldnât tell it wasnât my hair.
No, Iâm serious.
Itâs the same color and texture. Sure, itâs a little short, but thatâs not enough to say that it isnât mine.
âBut is this really not my hair?â
âItâs totally different! I can tell! Itâs not the same black color!â
âI- I see.â
It looks the same to me, but thereâs no way Michelie is lying. Sheâs positive that itâs not my hair, so she has to be right. There has to be some way she can tell, but I donât know how.
Letâs say it isnât my hair.
I still donât know why sheâs angry.
Hair tends to stick no matter how careful you are. Thereâs no way Michelie can get so narrow-minded and angry over such a trivial thingâŠâŠ or is there?
âWell then, big sister. Whatâs going on? Whose hair is this?
âHuh? Maybe itâs Leonâs.â
ââŠâŠLeon.â
Heâs the only black-haired person Iâve met today. Michelie stiffens when I mention his name.
It doesnât seem like she remembers him. She tilts her head slightly.
âLeonâŠâŠ?â
She tries to recall by repeating his name. Looks like she doesnât remember after all.
Itâs probably strange coming from me because I called him trash on our first meeting, but I pity him a little for being completely forgotten by Surfania as well as Michelie.
âRemember that guy? The commoner who climbed the wall here and fell off a while back. You treated him, right? And we were at the Founderâs Festival together, remember?â
âAhâŠâŠ Yeah. I remember. That guy with the black hairâŠâŠ and black eyes!â
She got it right.
I pat her soft golden hair, praising her for taking the effort to remember him.
âYou remembered. Good job, Michelie.â
âEhehe. I did a good job?â
âYup. You did great. And youâre so cute, my adorable Michelie!â
âEhehe. And youâre the cooles- hey, wait!â
I couldnât pull it off.
I look slightly away from Michelie. I thought I could make the matter slide through our usual banter, but it didnât work this time. Oh well, it was just a small chance. Yup, never mind.
âBig sister. Donât look away.â
âOkay.â
Maybe she detected my guilty feelings, but itâs fine now. Iâm mentally prepared to talk it out with her.
I look her in the eyes.
âYou havenât seen Leon all this time, right? Why are you meeting that kind of guy? Werenât you going to see Miss Surfania today?â
She puffs her cheeks as if telling me she isnât in a good mood.
I want to poke her soft and adorable cheek with my finger, but this will probably put her in a worse mood instead.
âBut I did. Sheâs a shut-in as usual.â
âReally?â
âYeah. I brought her to see Leon.â
âYou went with Miss Surfania?â
âYeah. You got along with her pretty well for a first time. Theyâre surprisingly compatible with each other.â
Michelie crosses her arms in thought.
âI seeâŠâŠ thatâs fine, then. As long as heâs not another one like CharlesâŠâŠâ
âYeah. Leonâs studying at the church, under Mariwaâs guidance. For free, too.â
I stop myself from complaining about the unfairness of having to pay for my education. Itâs not like I want to disturb Mariwaâs privacy anyway.
âAh, Miss Mariwa was there too.â
âWell? If you want to meet him, I could bring you along next time, you know?â
I was thinking about making this a routine for Surfania when weâre both free, too.
I brought this up because I remember seeing Michelie look a lot happier after our first meeting with Leon, but she shakes her head without giving it too much thought.
âNope, itâs fine. I donât remember him much anyway. Since it looks like theyâre getting along pretty well, why donât you bring Miss Surfania next time?â
âYeah, youâre right.â
Good luck, Leon.
Iâm relieved that sheâs not taking it to heart, but also cheer him on for his unrewarded efforts.