A Promise at the Carnival

A soft, delicate touch came from my finger—my little sister nestled in my embrace, her face upturned, her sapphire eyes fixed on me. Her cheeks were rosy, and a slight smile played on her lips, as if she were thoroughly enjoying the moment.

Joyful music swirled around us, and the faint scent of my sister drifted into my nostrils. The wooden horse rocked gently. I tightened my grip slightly, pulling her closer against me.

****

After a while, as the music gradually faded and the carousel slowed, it came to a stop. I released my hand from behind, lifted my sister off me, and then hopped down lightly.

“So, where to next?” Though I worried about my wallet, as long as I didn’t go overboard, two hundred yuan should be enough, right? …Right?

My heart was uneasy. I should have arranged to borrow next month’s allowance in advance.

“Big brother! I want that! Can you knock it down?”

My sister tugged at my sleeve and pulled me into a trot, excitedly pointing at a small shop not far away. It displayed various items of all sizes, and a counter was lined with beanbags.

It seemed to be a game where you throw beanbags to knock down prizes—a piece of cake for me!

We arrived at the shop just as someone stepped back from the front. I stood at the edge and patted my chest confidently. “No problem. Which one do you want? I’ll knock it down for you.”

“That little box!”

“That small box, huh? Alright, leave it to me~”

After paying, I took the beanbag the shopkeeper handed me, aimed, and threw it straight at a blue box. It hit dead center with a slap, and the box fell down.

“Wow, that big brother is amazing! He got it on the first try!” A little girl beside me stared enviously with wide eyes, watching my sister take the box from the shopkeeper.

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“Hmph, let’s go, big brother.” My sister puffed her cheeks, pinched my arm, and then grabbed my wrist, pulling me away.

“What’s wrong? What’s not to like?” I was confused. I had knocked it down perfectly, so why was she pinching me?

“Thanks for the treat, big brother’s jealousy.” My sister puffed her cheeks again and squeezed my wrist tightly.

“Is that box filled with vinegar?”

‘Oh, if she had said so earlier, I wouldn’t have thrown so hard. Now I hope the contents are fine.’

“You idiot big brother! Points deducted, deducted! How could you not get it?”

“Huh? Are you jealous over something like that? She’s just a little girl.”

“I don’t care!”

“So spoiled. But if the box isn’t vinegar, what is it?”

“Ah, like this. Hehe.”

My sister opened the box and pulled out a delicate blue bow. She clipped it onto her hair, then planted her hands on her hips with an air of pride, snorted twice, and said, “Ta-da! How do I look? If you think I’m cute, then pick me up.”

“Alright, alright. You’re cute. Here we go.”

“Huh? Hey!?”

Ignoring the stares of passersby, I gently lifted my sister. A smile tugged at my lips as I said, “Because I think my little sister is the cutest, I’m lifting you up. Satisfied?”

After saying that, I gently set her down. Her face instantly flushed bright red, even her ears turning crimson. She bit her rosy lips, looked up at me with a glance full of budding charm, then turned and trotted off, muttering, “Idiot big brother!”

Helpless, I ignored the stares and chased after her.

Because of the crowd, I quickly caught up and grabbed her right hand. She turned her head softly, clutching her left hand to her chest, and said in a sweet voice, “Big brother, I want to cool down. Can we go get some ice cream together?”

Looking at her like that, I smiled gently and said, “Let’s go. It’s cold, so just a little bit.”