"Please, Ririka! Otherwise, your older sister will definitely beat me to death!"
Ririka's face turned red, and she nodded gently: "Kiyotaka, you always say such strange things… Okay, I promise Kiyotaka I won't say anything."
Ririka smiled and suddenly asked: "So, Kiyotaka, do you like me or do you like my older sister more?"
"Of course I like both of you, but… of course, I like my cute Ririka the most!" Ayanokoji grinned and patted Ririka's head.
"Don't touch it, I won't grow tall…" Although she was very happy, Ririka still seriously took Ayanokoji's hand away.
She had heard other female classmates mention that boys seemed to prefer tall girls.
Ririka had also seen it with her own eyes; some male students, when gambling, liked to secretly look up at the Dealers. Once a Dealer leaned down to check their props, they would nervously turn their faces away.
She also needed to grow tall, to be as tall and slender as the Dealers.
Seeing Ririka refuse, Ayanokoji mumbled, looking very displeased.
"That's all your older sister's nonsense. Not growing tall is related to growth hormones and genes. How could it be because of head-patting? At most, too much patting will only make your hair sparse…"
Although he said this, he still reluctantly let go of her hand.
Ririka knew that Kiyotaka liked to pat other girls' heads very much.
Every time he gambled with other girls, he never asked for money or snacks, things everyone liked, as stakes.
The stakes he proposed were always simple, just small things like patting their heads or holding their hands.
Many girls liked to gamble with Kiyotaka because, regardless of winning or losing, they wouldn't lose anything substantial.
However, Ririka's older sister didn't like to gamble with Ayanokoji.
Every time she saw him gambling with girls with a smiling face, she always looked disgusted, as if she had seen something unclean.
Ririka hesitated for a long time, then took Kiyotaka's hand and placed it on her own head, shyly whispering: "You can touch it, but only for a little while."
Since Kiyotaka liked it, let him touch it. Just a short touch shouldn't be a problem, right…
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was stunned for a moment, then hugged Ririka with great emotion, excitedly muttering to himself: "I can't take it anymore, Ririka is too cute, I can't wait for the Genji Project to end quickly!"
As he said this, he quickly shook his head, muttering: "Can't be like this, Ririka is still young, and I'm also very young, it's not time yet…"
Although Ririka didn't understand what these words meant, she was still very happy.
Even though they were both children, Kiyotaka, like her older sister, knew many things.
When would she be as mature as them?
Holding the soft and fragrant Ririka, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka felt depressed for some reason and let go of Ririka.
"Ririka, do you know what's on the other side of the sea?" Ayanokoji Kiyotaka suddenly asked.
Ririka looked up, her gaze directed towards the distance.
Directly opposite this hillside was an endless expanse of clear blue sea, with no other islands visible within sight.
They were now like on an isolated island floating in the boundless ocean.
"On the other side of the sea… is home?" Ririka hesitated to speak.
Having lived on this island for four or five years, she had almost forgotten what her parents looked like.
Although it was on an isolated island, there was no shortage of daily necessities. Every month, a ship full of living supplies would arrive at the island.
If you wanted something, you could also report it to the higher-ups and exchange it for points, so Ririka didn't miss life on the other side.
Besides her older sister and mother, she could barely remember what her other family members looked like.
Although the school teachers always said that these students were all members of one family, all family, Ririka didn't agree.
Her only real family on this island, besides her older sister, was Kiyotaka.
"Yes, home is on the other side of the sea."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka pointed his finger towards the vast sea, his tone serious: "But… on the other side of the sea are also the enemies who sent us to this isolated island."
"Only by defeating them can we gain freedom."
"Ririka, I will definitely take you all back to the other side of the sea… definitely."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka always had a frivolous smile on his face, as if he didn't care about anything. This was the first time Ririka had seen him with such a serious expression.
Although she still couldn't understand the gravity of his words, Ririka nodded forcefully: "I believe Kiyotaka can definitely do it!"
"With Ririka's encouragement, I feel strong enough to be invincible!"
Ayanokoji smiled and took Ririka's hand: "Alright, let's go back. If we go back late, those little devils will definitely have snatched all the good food. Now is the time to grow, Ririka must eat more."
"But my older sister said my homework was not up to standard, so I probably won't have much time to eat properly…"
"No problem! After dinner, I'll tutor Ririka. Middle school math problems certainly won't stump Ririka!"
"Kiyotaka is indeed amazing… just as amazing as older sister!"
"Just average, average. I can't compare to your older sister; your older sister is a true genius."
"But older sister said you are the genius."
"Your older sister is being modest. I'm not a genius; I just know a little bit more than you all. If under the same circumstances, I can't guarantee I'd do as well as your older sister."
Ririka was half-understanding.
When she was with her older sister, although her older sister always looked disgusted and poked fun at Kiyotaka, she always admitted that Kiyotaka was the genius and she was not as good as him.
And Kiyotaka always said that her older sister was amazing, and he couldn't compare to her at all.
Who was truly more amazing between them?
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka suddenly paused, his expression serious: "Oh, right, our conversation today is a secret. Ririka, you absolutely must not tell anyone, not even your older sister!"
"Mm, this is my secret with Kiyotaka. Then… let's pinky promise."
"It feels a bit childish…" Although Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said this, he still extended his thumb and hooked Ririka's hand.
"Pinky promise."
…
Sometime later, Ririka woke up, her pillow inexplicably half-wet.
Recalling the scene in her dream, Ririka Momobami strengthened her conviction.
…Those days were tough, one could even say they were a nightmare.
But with Kiyotaka there, she wasn't afraid.
Kiyotaka, although I don't know how you lost your memory, I will definitely help you get it back.
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