"..."
Xiao Se said nothing, only unable to resist reaching out to touch Xiao Xiao's cheek.
"Big Sister, are you unhappy?"
Xiao Xiao fell silent, then gently took her young brother's hand and said seriously, "This isn't unhappiness. It's worry."
"Worry?"
His childish voice rose slightly, clearly unable to understand this unfamiliar word.
"Yes. It's the feeling of being troubled for yourself, and for others. It may still be a little too distant for Xiao Se, though—"
"...Is that so?"
Xiao Se blinked. Though he could not fully understand, as blood-related family, he could still vaguely sense it.
"Big Sister, worries about me?"
Xiao Xiao nodded.
"Being sensible is a good thing, but no matter how you look at it, these aren't things you should understand at your age."
"—Things I shouldn't understand?"
"That's right. When I first began to remember things, Father was traveling outside. Mother told me so, and I accepted that Father wasn't by my side. But even then, I still wanted Father to be with me, even if it was only for him to be there."
"What does Xiao Se think?"
"I... don't know."
Xiao Se came back to himself, but only shook his head.
He could not fully understand his sister's words, so naturally he could not give her an answer.
It was just that the choice that seemed more correct did not seem to be accepted by his sister instead.
"It's all right. I wasn't trying to force Xiao Se to understand some grand principle right now."
Xiao Xiao smiled and took Xiao Se's little hand. "In any case—when Father and the others aren't around, as long as I'm awake, I'll keep Xiao Se company. I'm your big sister, after all."
"Big Sister?"
Looking at the girl holding his hand, her smile restored, Xiao