My Sister Is Bronya

I'm so, so happy.

But... no one will snatch her cigarettes anymore.

Seele and Bronya liked her a lot, but they also held her in awe, so they wouldn't do something like that.

— Only he, only he would do that.

Cocolia even remembered a time when she failed in a power struggle with Anti-Entropy's higher-ups. Unhappy, she returned to the orphanage and drank a lot. The children stood far away, looking at her with worry, but none dared to speak to her.

Oh, no, she remembered Seele had tried to tell her not to drink then, but she was already drunk and hadn't taken Seele's words to heart at all.

Only Ishiu walked right up to her at that moment, forcefully snatched the bottle from her hand, and when she tried to take it back, he knocked her forehead with a chop.

And then... she threw up.

In the end, Ishiu helped her clean herself up and took her to the bedroom to sleep.

Recalling the past, Cocolia found her emotions gradually stabilizing.

Yes, whether that person was her child or not, she was going to find him. She would do it even if it cost her everything!

Wasn't that right?

Cocolia, now calm, became teary-eyed the moment she heard Ishiu call out "Mom."

She couldn't hold it in any longer. She abruptly got up from the sofa and ran quickly towards Ishiu. She didn't even care when her leg accidentally tripped on a table corner. When she reached Ishiu, she bent down and hugged him tightly, feeling his warmth and heartbeat once again. Cocolia's tears slid down her cheeks at that moment, dripping onto Ishiu's neck.

"Ishiu... Ishiu... Ishiu..."

She had thought she would have many things to say, many questions to ask when she saw Ishiu.

She wanted to ask how he got out of the Sea of Quantum, if he was doing well during this time, why he didn't come back, why he...

Thousands of words were stuck in her throat, but at this moment, she could only repeatedly murmur Ishiu's name, as if afraid it was all a dream and the person in her arms would shatter like a bubble.

But thankfully, it wasn't a dream.

Because she could clearly feel a pair of hands tightly embracing her from behind, and that familiar voice came from her chest.

"Mom... you're going to... suffocate me..."

Having barely escaped death from Cocolia's embrace, Ishiu vowed in his heart that if he ever found a wife, he would find one with a small chest. Otherwise, dying of suffocation someday would be too ridiculous!

Chapter 66: Farewell

After a long while, Ishiu sat awkwardly in Cocolia's embrace. He felt Kiana's strange gaze from across the room and really wanted to find a hole to crawl into.

Damn it!

He really wasn't a mama's boy!

His mom insisted on hugging him, and if he dared to refuse, she would immediately start crying. How could he dare to refuse?

"Ahem... So, Auntie, you're the orphanage director that Ishiu mentioned? And Ishiu's 'Mom'?" Kiana asked Cocolia, looking a bit conflicted.

Honestly, Cocolia's crying and laughing while hugging Ishiu earlier had really startled her.

But when she came to her senses, she felt envious and silently offered her blessings for Ishiu's reunion with his family.

She couldn't help but imagine what it would be like if she met her own dad.

She thought about it and quickly pictured it.

— She'd be chasing Siegfried with a gun in one hand and a baseball bat in the other, beating him and scolding him.

Yeah, it definitely had a vivid image.

"That's right, my name is Cocolia. Ishiu has troubled you for taking care of him all this time. Thank you," Cocolia said, wiping away her tears. Her eyes were still red, but she had a smile on her face.

"Haha, I didn't really take care of him that much..." Kiana said, scratching her head and smiling sheepishly. After all, she knew herself best. She hadn't taken care of Ishiu at all; in fact, she was practically being supported by him.

Ishiu rolled his eyes but didn't expose her. He decided to save her some face in front of his mom.

"Um... Miss Kiana, is it? Could you please give Ishiu and me some space? I'd like to talk to him," Cocolia asked.

"Yes, yes, of course. I'll head out now," Kiana said, nodding quickly. She then gave Ishiu a meaningful look before happily skipping out the door.

As Kiana left, the living room suddenly became quiet.

Ishiu shifted uncomfortably, feeling the extreme softness behind him, which made him blush with embarrassment. He whispered, "Um... Mom, can you let me down first? This isn't very appropriate..."

"What's inappropriate about it?" Cocolia asked, hugging Ishiu's waist and resting her chin on his shoulder, gently stroking his cheek. "You're my son, can't I hug you?"

"Uh... okay, since Mom is the boss. But don't let Seele and Bronya know, or it'll be too embarrassing," Ishiu pouted.

"Hehe, okay, Mom promises this is our little secret. We won't tell anyone, alright?" Cocolia chuckled softly, burying her face in Ishiu's neck and taking a deep breath.

"Ishiu... you've really come back... this isn't a dream..."

Ishiu, who had been feeling a bit uneasy, felt his heart soften when he heard Cocolia's dreamlike murmur. He pursed his lips and replied in his gentlest voice, "Yes, I'm back."

Half an hour later, Ishiu told Cocolia about his experiences in the World Bubble and what had happened after he arrived in Changkong City, which resolved some of her doubts.

Of course, Ishiu didn't tell Cocolia about A, because she had asked him to keep it a secret. So, he had to make up an excuse. It was a bit far-fetched, but since Cocolia didn't understand the situation in the Sea of Quantum, she had no choice but to believe him.

"Ishiu, you've worked hard," Cocolia said, her voice filled with concern as she gently touched his face after hearing about his experiences in the World Bubble.

Unable to explain that his abilities came from a system, he claimed to have learned them all in that World Bubble. This made Cocolia feel even more sympathetic.

"It's fine, no hardship. I came back safe and sound, didn't I?" Ishiu grinned, turning to look at Cocolia. "By the way, are Seele, Bronya, Rosaliya, and Liliya all doing well?"

"...Yes, they're all fine. They've been quite down lately because of you," Cocolia pursed her lips, her gaze drifting away subconsciously. Her voice sounded a little strange, but since Ishiu wasn't on guard around her, he didn't notice the subtle detail.

"Well... it can't be helped. I wish I could have come back sooner," Ishiu scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed.

"It's alright, it's not your fault. I was negligent; I forgot to prepare an identity and funds for you while you were away," Cocolia thought for a moment, then pulled a card from her pocket and handed it to Ishiu. "There's a little money on this card. It's not much, but it should be enough for you. The PIN is six zeros. Don't work part-time anymore. I'll also sort out your identity issue as soon as possible."

"Okay, thanks, Mom," Ishiu accepted the bank card with a smile, not refusing it. Is this what it feels like to be a mama's boy? Bring on the affection!

"Silly child, why thank your own mother?" Cocolia chuckled softly, tapping Ishiu's forehead with her finger, chiding him playfully.

"Oh, right, do you have anything else you need to pack here?" Cocolia asked, as if suddenly remembering something.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Ishiu asked, confused.

"Of course, your things," Cocolia said. "We're going back soon. Aren't you going to pack?"

"Ah..."

Ishiu blinked, finally realizing. Right, he was supposed to go back.

But... why didn't he feel more excited?

"Ishiu?" Cocolia called out, puzzled when he remained silent for a long time.

"Um... Mom, can you give me a little more time?" Ishiu pursed his lips. "I want to say goodbye to my friends."

"The friends you're referring to are that little girl Kiana outside, and... Raiden Mei, right?" Cocolia lowered her eyelids. When she mentioned Raiden Mei, her tone became strangely altered for some reason.

"Yeah, is that okay?"

"...Of course. I've already seen you, so whether you go back early or late doesn't make much difference," Cocolia paused for a moment before nodding.

"Thank you, Mom," Ishiu grinned, turned, hugged Cocolia, and nuzzled her cheek before hopping off her. "I'll be back soon."

"Okay, be careful on your way. Go and come back quickly," Cocolia said with a smile. However, the moment Ishiu closed the door and left, her smile vanished, replaced by a somber and bitter expression.

Sigh... Raiden Mei... Why, why did it have to be you and Ishiu who became friends?

Cocolia's emotions were incredibly complex. She didn't know how she would face Ishiu after this, but she wouldn't stop her plan. Because she was... an ambitious schemer.

(Meanwhile, Bronya is still on her way by plane.)

Hope the picture is okay (hands clasped).jpg

Author's Note

Ahem, after a month of adventure, this book is about to reach its coming-of-age ceremony.

They say a book is like one's own daughter, and putting it up for sale is like selling your daughter, hoping as many people as possible will buy her. The feeling is rather indescribable.

But regardless, starting tomorrow, and thanks to the enthusiasm of my readers in the group, I'll be setting up a bounty.

Tomorrow, upon release, there will be a guaranteed five chapters.

Bonus Chapter Rules:

Every fifty "knife slices" (a form of donation) will add one thousand words.

Every five thousand in donations will add one thousand words.

No upper limit, for one week.

The reason for setting it at one thousand words is that I might write chapters of four thousand words or six thousand words, depending on my mood. But the quantity will definitely not be small, so please rest assured.

That's all for now. The book goes live tomorrow at 10 AM. I kindly ask all my "fathers and mothers" to support me with your wallets, click subscribe, and save this child!

Chapter Sixty-Seven: I Can't Bear to Let You Go (1/5)

"Ishiu, why are you out here? Did you finish talking with Auntie?" Kiana, who was leaning against the railing in the hallway, heard movement behind her and turned around, only to see Ishiu emerge.

"Mhm..." Ishiu pursed his lips. He looked at Kiana before him, recalling the past month they had spent together, and for a moment, he didn't know how to start.

Honestly, Ishiu had always agreed with the saying that the depth of a relationship isn't determined by how long people have known each other.

He had known Kiana for only a month, but their personalities meshed so well that they already considered each other close friends.

He had known An for two years, yet they weren't even considered friends.

Ishiu had originally planned to save money diligently and return to the Siberian orphanage. But when Cocolia showed up and wanted to take him back, he didn't feel particularly happy.

Of course, it wasn't that he didn't want to go back. He wanted to see Seele, Bronya, Liliya, Rosaliya, and the other children at the orphanage again.

However, he also didn't want to be separated from Kiana and Mei.

"What's wrong? You look so glum. Don't you want to see your mom?" Kiana teased, pulling at his cheek with a smile, trying to turn the corners of his mouth upwards. "You look better when you smile."

"Kiana..." Ishiu looked at Kiana, hesitated, and then quietly said, "Um... I, I have to go back."

"Huh? Go back where?" Kiana blinked, not understanding for a moment.

"I mean, I'm going back to Siberia with Mom," Ishiu's voice became even softer. He looked into Kiana's clear blue eyes, his heart filled with reluctance.

"Ah..." Kiana's eyes widened. She stared blankly for about ten seconds before shaking her head as if snapping back to reality. "Ah, right, you, you do need to go back. So, congratulations, Ishiu, you can finally go home..."

"Kiana…"

"Ha, haha, why are you making that face? You're going home, shouldn't you be happy?" Kiana unconsciously scratched her head. A smile reappeared on her face, but this time, it was incredibly forced.

Looking at Kiana's strained smile, Ishiu felt a pang of heartache for some reason.

After a moment of silence, he spoke softly, from the bottom of his heart, "I don't want you to go."

"……"

Kiana stared blankly at Ishiu, her lips trembling slightly, curving up and then down. The expression on her face changed rapidly. She tried her best to control her emotions, but her eyes still began to redden.

To avoid making a fool of herself, she quickly averted her gaze, no longer looking at Ishiu. Her voice trembled as she said, "You brat, why are you suddenly saying things like that? Do you think you can move me with just that? Ptooey! How disgusting!"

"Kiana…"

"Ugh, you're so annoying! If you're going to leave, hurry up and go. Do you think I'll be sad? What a joke. This young lady has been traveling alone for so many years, I've experienced countless farewells. Besides, aren't we still friends in the future?" Kiana said, turning her back completely and looking up at the sky again. "Remember to call me when you get back, you brat. Don't you dare forget me."

"I won't forget," Ishiu managed a smile. "Yeah, with you saying that, I feel much more at ease. We'll still be friends, and I'll come back to see you when I have time."

"Mhm, mhm."

"Then I'll go find Mei. I want to say goodbye to her too. Oh, and my jobs at the convenience store and McDonald's… I probably won't have time to tell the bosses, so can you apologize for me?"

"Mhm, mhm. Go ahead," Kiana replied without turning her head, only raising her arm to wave.

"Okay." Seeing Kiana's seemingly carefree demeanor, Ishiu didn't know what else to say. He could only turn around silently and walk towards the stairwell.