"Hey, big brother, what's wrong?"
While Arthur was lost in thought, Mikasa raised her little hand and waved it in front of his eyes, asking with a puzzled look.
Arthur snapped out of his thoughts and saw the adorable Mikasa standing before him, looking confused. He shook his head gently.
"Nothing. I was just thinking."
Then he reached out and gently stroked her little head.
"So warm." Mikasa closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of Arthur's hand stroking her head. She didn't know why, but his hands always felt so warm, and he always smelled nice.
It made her want to cling to him.
"My, my, our little Mikasa really loves getting her head patted by her big brother."
Watching their heartwarming exchange, Yumiko covered her mouth and chuckled before teasing her.
Her mother's words immediately made Mikasa shy.
A vivid blush burned across her cheeks, and her long eyelashes fluttered gently.
Like a flustered kitten, Mikasa shook her head repeatedly and tried to deny it.
"Mom, I do not!"
Yumiko simply watched the embarrassed Mikasa with a silent smile.
Seeing that knowing look in her mother's eyes, Mikasa grew even more embarrassed, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.
"I'm home!"
Just then, the front door opened, and Uncle Kane returned from hunting. A black-powder hunting rifle-or rather, a musket-was slung across his back, and he carried freshly caught pheasants and rabbits in both hands.
"Welcome home!" Ever the devoted wife and mother, Yumiko stepped forward to take Kane's game and put it in the kitchen, then helped him out of his coat and hung it on the coat rack nearby.
"Dad, you caught more animals!" Mikasa looked at the pheasants and rabbits her father had brought home, her eyes full of admiration.
"Yes, I had pretty good luck today, so I caught quite a lot." Kane picked Mikasa up and rubbed his stubbly cheek against his beloved daughter's face.
"Your beard is so prickly, Dad!" The scratch of Kane's stubble made Mikasa uncomfortable, and she frowned at him, pretending to be disgusted.
"Oh, so you're turning your nose up at your dad now!" Kane furrowed his brows in mock anger, then unleashed his ultimate tickling attack on Mikasa.
"Hahaha! Dad, I'm sorry!" Mikasa burst into laughter under his tickling and hurriedly begged for mercy.
After fooling around for a while, Kane set Mikasa down.
"Uncle Kane, I want to go hunting with you too." Arthur looked at Kane and told him what he wanted.
"Huh? No, you're still too young." Kane froze for a moment, then shook his head repeatedly, refusing Arthur's request. After all, Arthur was only nine, just two years older than Mikasa.
Hearing Uncle Kane refuse, Arthur didn't give up and continued trying to persuade him.
"Uncle Kane, I'm strong enough now. You've seen that yourself. And I'm not afraid of hard work. I just want to do something for this family."
Honestly, Arthur felt bad about staying home every day and living off another family's food. Although he sometimes helped with the chores, those were only little things.
He also wanted to go hunting with Kane to toughen himself up and learn new skills.
"Hmm..."
Kane paused at the determination in Arthur's eyes, then thought it over for a moment.
"Honey, just let Arthur go." Yumiko joined in, trying to persuade her husband.
"Ah, all right. I'll let you come along the next time I go hunting."
With a sigh, Kane finally gave in and agreed.
"Yes! Thank you, Uncle Kane." Arthur flashed a victory sign, delighted.
"But I have one condition. You have to do as I say, or I won't take you hunting. Understand?"
Seeing Arthur's excitement, Kane quickly laid down the ground rules.
"Of course!"
Arthur nodded firmly.
Come on, going off on my own instead of following a professional? As if it were that easy.
"Dad, can I come too?" Seeing her father agree to take Arthur hunting, Mikasa wanted to join them as well, though her main reason was that she wanted to stay with Arthur.
"No!" Kane refused flatly.
"Hmph! You're mean, Dad!" Unhappy at her father's refusal, Mikasa pouted and turned away, refusing to look at him.
Seeing his daughter get angry, Kane looked helplessly toward his wife.
But Yumiko merely gave him an amused look at his predicament, leaving him even more helpless.
"Be good, Mikasa. Uncle Kane has a reason for not taking you hunting. The forest is dangerous. He's only keeping you home to protect you."
Seeing Kane's helpless expression, Arthur came to his rescue and tried to reason with Mikasa.
"Then why do you get to go?" Mikasa was bewildered.
"Because I'm a boy, and I'm two years older than you." Arthur smiled and gently tapped Mikasa's forehead.
"It's only two years. Honestly, why did I have to be a girl?" Mikasa pouted indignantly.
"Mikasa, how can you think that? You're so cute and pretty because you're a girl, aren't you?" Hearing her words, Arthur hurried to correct her.
"Mm..." Arthur's compliment made Mikasa terribly shy.
This brat... Seeing Arthur fluster his daughter with just a few words, Kane suddenly felt as though some little rascal was about to steal his precious girl away.
"Hehe." Yumiko couldn't help laughing at the constipated look on her husband's face.
Hearing his wife laugh, Kane scratched his head awkwardly, then shot Arthur a supposedly fierce glare.
"???"
Utterly clueless about romance, Arthur stared blankly at Kane, unable to understand why he was glaring at him.
"Big brother, let's go outside and play!" Mikasa took Arthur's hand.
"Okay, let's go, Mikasa!" Arthur simply stopped wondering why, nodded, and followed Mikasa out of the house.
As the two walked out together, looking every bit like a pair of childhood sweethearts, Yumiko and Kane watched their retreating figures and exchanged a smile.