My little sister, Umi, has been getting on my nerves lately.
Then again, she's been annoying from the start. She's just a freshly-minted high schooler who's never been tossed about by the rough waves of society, yet she talks down to me—her big brother—like she knows it all.
By the way, there's a ten-year age gap between us. Some people hear that and say she must be the cutest thing, but that couldn't be further from the truth. She's just a little devil with a halfway decent face.
And recently, her antics have leveled up.
"Hey, Big Bro. Just gonna borrow this game, 'kay?"
One day, she barged into my room without knocking, announcing her intentions as she tried to snatch the console along with the game she wanted.
Not "Can I borrow it?" but "I'm borrowing it." I suppose it's a few steps up from just taking it without a word, but it's still pretty irritating.
Of course, if I refused and she tattled to our parents, I'd be in for it, so I really have no choice but to let her.
"…Oi."
"? What."
I called out just as she was about to grab a certain game case.
It was a completely different genre from what she normally plays.
My sister got hooked on games exactly a year ago, but she's always been into RPGs and simulators. She's never shown the slightest interest in FPS games like the one she was holding.
"Come to think of it… I have a favor to ask, actually."
"Hah?"
"Teach me the tricks. For this game."
"…Eh?"
I had to be hearing things.
Ever since she got into gaming, she's never once asked me for advice. So why the sudden change of heart, acting all buddy-buddy with me now?
"What's with that look? Are you gonna teach me or not? You know, it's because you're so indecisive that you'll be jobless forever."
"That last part was completely unnecessary. …No, well, if you're asking, I've got the time, so I don't mind… Besides, there's a guaranteed-win method for that game, technically."
"Eh? Seriously? There's something like that?"
In an instant, my sister's eyes lit up, sparkling. For a moment, she looked just like she did when she was little, back when she still looked up to me, even just a little.
"Yeah… It only works against the AI, since a human opponent would fight back, but… you can definitely hold your own, and then some."
"I see, so that's it… That guy… he knew and didn't tell me… what a jerk."
"? 'That guy'?"
"Tch… A-Ah, sorry, just talking to myself. Anyway, teach me that guaranteed win method. I've still got some time before bed, so be my practice partner until then."
"I guess a little bit is fine… but before that, there's something I forgot to mention. When you ask someone to teach you something, what's the first thing you're supposed to do? You're a smart girl, so you get it, right? Hmm?"
"…I know, I know. Geez… for a jobless bum, you're seriously a pain about this stuff…"
Grumbling under her breath, my sister obediently turned to face me and gave a slight bow.
"…Please teach me. I'm begging you."
"…Very well, then."
My little sister has been a pain lately, but, well, we're family. I guess I can humor her this once.