Nanako Ohara

The ambulance sped past. A brief examination revealed that the top student's jaw had been smashed to pieces. Even if he recovered, he would be hideously ugly.

None of that had anything to do with Shinnosuke, though. He was sauntering back when he suddenly stopped in his tracks and hurried behind a utility pole!

He had spotted Go walking along, chatting and laughing with a woman who had long black hair and looked beautiful from behind. The flames of gossip burned fiercely in his eyes!

Shinnosuke quietly followed the pair from the café all the way to the shopping street. Just then, a booming voice suddenly rang out behind him, making him jump!

"Isn't that Nohara? What are you sneaking around here for?"

The speaker was Seki Kiriko, who had happened to run into Shinnosuke on the street and greeted him. Shinnosuke turned around, put a finger to his lips, and kept shushing him, leaving him utterly confused.

"Shh... Keep your voice down!"

Seki Kiriko's voice was so loud that the two people ahead heard him clearly. Go turned around excitedly and immediately zeroed in on Shinnosuke!

"Ah! Big Brother Shinnosuke! What are you doing here?!"

The beautiful woman was startled too.

Shinnosuke turned around helplessly. He looked up and froze on the spot!

The original owner of this body had been very fond of women in their twenties when he was in kindergarten. Among his memories was an older girl he had been completely smitten with.

The woman before him was none other than Nanako Ohara, whom he had depended on so much as a little boy!

His soul had completely merged with this body, along with his personality and his feelings. The instant he saw Nanako Ohara, his eyes turned red, and his face burned!

A thought flashed through Nanako Ohara's mind. After graduating from university, she had been assigned to a company in Tokyo. Before leaving, she had treated the Nohara family to a meal to thank them for looking after her for so long.

But seven-year-old Shinnosuke had not shown up that day. Misae Nohara had told her that after learning she was leaving for Tokyo, Shinnosuke had shut himself in his room...

The Nohara family had seen her off at the station, but she still hadn't seen the boy. She had then come to Tokyo and stayed for ten years. Now she was thirty-two, and she hadn't expected them to meet again like this.

A gentle breeze blew past, and Nanako tucked a drifting strand of hair behind her ear. She gazed tenderly at the young man before her.

"It's been a long time... Shin-chan..."

Buried memories were slowly unearthed, flooding his mind. At some point, Shinnosuke noticed that his vision had grown blurry.

"Ah... It's been a long time, Sister Nana."

Go and Seki Kiriko stood beside them, utterly bewildered. What was going on???

The two walked side by side along the river. Then Nanako Ohara spoke, breaking the awkward silence.

"Shin-chan... Are you going to school in Tokyo now too...?"

Shinnosuke kicked a stone at his feet and answered flusteredly.

"Ah, yes... Our whole family moved to Tokyo because Hima-chan had to start elementary school..."

"Then Hima-chan must be twelve now, right? She must have grown into a real beauty..."

At that, Shinnosuke pictured Hima-chan fast asleep, drooling as she hugged a magazine full of expensive jewelry... His mouth twitched. That had nothing to do with being a beauty...

Then Nanako spoke.

"Do you and Go-chan go to the same school? I noticed you're wearing the same uniform."

Hearing that, Shinnosuke looked up at her. After thinking for a moment, he asked,

"Sister Nana... You and Go are...?"

Nanako Ohara suddenly covered her mouth and laughed.

"Haha... What are you thinking? He's my older brother's son!"

Shinnosuke's face flushed, but he also breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing Shinnosuke like that, Nanako Ohara blushed too. She suddenly remembered how he had often said things like he would marry her when he was little...

When she came back to her senses, she found Shinnosuke staring at her in a daze. His tender gaze actually made her heart beat a little faster. Their eyes met, and both turned away, somewhat flustered...

"Um... Sister Nana, are you still... living by yourself...?"

"Yes... I often get so busy with work that my head spins, so I haven't had time for a relationship..."

After saying that, Nanako grew even more flustered, her face alarmingly red. Why did I tell him something like that...?

The scene shifted. Shinnosuke invited Nanako to visit his home, and she happily accepted. The two arrived at the Nohara house, and Shinnosuke took out his key and opened the door.

"I'm home."

"Sorry to intrude."

Misae was preparing dinner when she heard Shinnosuke and a woman's voice at the door. She peeked out, and cried out in delighted surprise!

"Oh! You're Nana, aren't you? My, it really has been so long! You've gotten even prettier!"

Nanako happily took Misae's hand.

"Auntie, it really has been so long! You still look as young as ever!"

"Oh, I'm already this old. What do you mean, young? Come, come, sit down!"

Misae took Nanako's hand and sat with her in the living room, chatting away. Just then, Hima-chan heard their voices from the second floor and came thumping downstairs.

"Mom, do we have a guest~?"

Nanako looked at the cute girl before her and said with a nostalgic expression,

"Hima-chan, you've grown so much! I knew you'd be a beautiful girl when you grew up, but you've still exceeded my expectations!"

Hearing the very beautiful woman before her praise her, Hima-chan blushed and smiled bashfully.

Then Misae took Hima-chan's hand and said,

"You probably don't remember. You weren't even a year old then. This is Sister Nana. She used to come see you all the time, and she was your brother's bride, too!"

Nanako's face turned bright red with embarrassment. She glanced at the young man beside her, but didn't deny it. Shinnosuke blushed too, fidgeting with his fingers awkwardly.

Hima-chan gave her a slight bow.

"Hello, Sister Nana. I hope we'll get along from now on~"