Sister Izumi's Jealousy

Before long, Teuchi brought the ramen to the table one trip after another. The steaming noodles gave off an enticing aroma that filled the small shop.

"Enjoy your meal, guests," Teuchi said with a smile before turning away to attend to other customers.

Uchiha Ao looked toward Hyuga Hinata and said pointedly, "Hinata, it's my treat today, so please make sure you eat your fill!"

Hinata's cheeks flushed instantly. She didn't say a word, simply picking up her chopsticks and lifting a strand of noodles to her lips.

The two stepped out of the ramen shop. Hinata looked completely satisfied, while Uchiha Ao subconsciously patted his wallet. At that touch, his smile froze, then stiffened inch by inch.

"Ao-kun, th...thank you," Hyuga Hinata whispered.

Noticing Hinata's gaze, Uchiha Ao regained some composure, pulling his mouth into a smile that looked worse than a cry. "Don't, don't mention it."

I was too careless. I didn't expect Hinata to have such an appetite; this one meal cost me half a month's allowance.

Because his parents were gone, he had always received a stipend issued by the Uchiha clan.

However, since he had been adopted by Sister Izumi's family, he had barely touched his allowance.

Hiss, can I afford to keep Hinata fed until the mission is complete?

Uchiha Ao felt a wave of panic, though he had to force a calm expression on his face as he reached up to scratch the back of his head.

Should I ask Sister Izumi for a loan?

"Ao-kun, what's wrong?" Seeing Uchiha Ao lost in thought, Hyuga Hinata asked curiously.

Uchiha Ao shook his head, trying to cast the thought from his mind.

"It's nothing, Hinata," Uchiha Ao replied casually.

The two soon reached a street corner. Hinata followed the members of the Hyuga branch family in one direction, while Uchiha Ao turned to head the other way.

Along the way, the moonlight stretched his shadow long. He walked, calculating ways to make money in his head.

Just as he reached the entrance of the Uchiha compound, Uchiha Ao ran into Uchiha Izumi, who was standing there with her arms crossed.

Sister Izumi looked at him with a half-smile and said languidly, "Little brother, coming home so late?"

!!!

Alarm bells rang in Uchiha Ao's heart. His intuition told him that Sister Izumi had definitely been waiting here specifically for him.

"Sister~" Uchiha Ao's face instantly shifted into a fawning smile. He hurried over to Uchiha Izumi's side and affectionately hooked his arm through hers. "It's so late, why are you still out here, Sister Izumi?"

Although Uchiha Izumi was burning with anger, she didn't shake him off. She merely looked at him with a cold expression, her gaze seemingly able to see through everything.

Uchiha Ao felt his skin crawl under her stare. His hand, hooked through her arm, tightened involuntarily, and the smile on his face grew even stiffer.

"Sister Izumi, what... what's wrong?" Uchiha Ao asked cautiously, his voice trembling slightly.

Uchiha Izumi let out a cold snort and turned her head away. "You know exactly what you did."

Hearing this, Uchiha Ao realized immediately that Sister Izumi must have followed him during the day. He decided to honestly confess everything that had happened.

Uchiha Izumi kept a straight face, listening quietly to the explanation from her "scumbag" little brother.

"Sister, that's all there is to it. Hinata and I are just ordinary friends. I saw she was pitiful and wanted to help her out," Uchiha Ao said honestly, his eyes full of sincerity.

"Hmph." Uchiha Izumi snorted again and turned away, acting as if she didn't want to deal with this "scumbag" brother.

Seeing that Sister Izumi was still angry, Uchiha Ao clung to her arm, trying to appease her. "Sister Izumi, don't be mad. I'll buy you three-colored dango tomorrow~"

At the mention of three-colored dango, the corners of Uchiha Izumi's mouth lifted slightly, but she couldn't let her brother off that easily.

As a princess of the Hyuga clan, she couldn't do much directly to Hinata, but her brother was a different story. If he didn't listen, he would have to be properly "punished."

"I can stop being angry, if you want." Uchiha Izumi gave a light huff.

Uchiha Ao's eyes lit up at her words. As long as she wasn't angry, he would agree to anything.

"No problem, Sister Izumi!"

Uchiha Izumi turned around, maintaining her cold expression, though she felt smug inside: My little brother is still wrapped around my finger.

"Fine, since you said so, I won't hold back." She paused, then continued, "From today on, you will be my body pillow every night. No resisting!"

When Uchiha Ao heard this condition, he thought it was just being a body pillow—nothing major—so he quickly agreed.

That night, Uchiha Ao lay in bed, waiting quietly for his sister to arrive.

Because of Izumi's Mother, Sister Izumi could only come over once her mother was asleep.

Click. The door was pushed open gently. Uchiha Izumi tiptoed into the room, the moonlight spilling over her through the window.

Uchiha Ao lay in bed. Seeing her brother's well-behaved appearance, Uchiha Izumi, who had been impatient to begin with, climbed onto the bed and hugged him from behind.

Held by Sister Izumi from behind, Uchiha Ao went completely rigid. The bravery he had been feigning vanished, leaving his mind a blank slate.

"Si...Sister Izumi, what are you doing?" Feeling his armpits being tickled, Uchiha Ao fought back a laugh, twisting his body, yet he dared not move too forcefully for fear of shaking her off.

"Sister Izumi, stop tickling me, I'm ticklish!" He begged for mercy with a tearful tone, his voice distorted from trying to hold back his laughter.

"Hmph, don't move!" Sister Izumi's voice carried an unquestionable authority, yet the slight upward lilt in her tone betrayed a hint of excitement.

Bullying her little brother was so much fun; she felt like she was getting addicted to it. Should she tie him to the bed? That way, not only could she bully him to her heart's content, but she could also prevent him from being snatched away by girls outside.

As soon as this thought popped into her head, Uchiha Izumi hurriedly shook it away.

No, no, that would make him hate me.

Thinking of this, Uchiha Izumi stopped her movements and quieted down while hugging her brother.

"Sister, are... are you sleepy?" Uchiha Ao asked in a low voice, seeing Sister Izumi suddenly go quiet.

Sister Izumi gave a soft hum: "Go to sleep, we have to get up early tomorrow." She closed her eyes, feeling her brother's body heat, a sense of sweetness and satisfaction welling up in her heart.

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, Uchiha Ao slowly woke up to the sound of crisp birdsong, but Sister Izumi was already nowhere to be seen beside him.

She probably went to the Ninja Academy, right? Uchiha Ao thought to himself.

He then walked out of the room and into the living room, where he saw Izumi's Mother busy in the kitchen.

"Auntie, good morning!" Uchiha Ao greeted her politely, his voice still carrying the laziness and grogginess of someone who had just woken up.

Izumi's Mother turned her head, a kind smile on her face: "Ao, you're awake. Go wash up first, then come have breakfast."

Uchiha Ao acknowledged her and walked toward the washroom with still-sleepy steps.