All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

Kids loved soft, warm things, and Yuka was no exception. She always enjoyed snuggling into Kotomi’s arms.

Kotomi held her with the practiced ease of someone used to carrying children—after all, she still carried Aimi that way.

However… as Kotomi straightened up, she noticed that Yuka seemed to have gotten a little chubbier since the last time they met.

Adorably plump, yes—but definitely heavier to lift.

”Yuka, come down now. If you keep eating so much, one day even your Penguin Onee-chan won’t be able to carry you,” Yui said, noticing the slight strain on Kotomi’s face.

Kotomi was about to say it was fine, but Yuka had already obediently climbed down from her arms.

Standing between Kotomi and Yui, Yuka glanced left at Kotomi and right at Yui. Then, with a spark of realization, she grinned, grabbed Kotomi’s sleeve with one chubby hand and Yui’s sleeve with the other.

”Penguin Onee-chan, you and my sister came to pick me up together—are you two dating now? Yay! My sister finally got her wish to win over Penguin Onee-chan! Go, Onee-chan, hurry up and marry her so Penguin Onee-chan can be my sister-in-law!”

Yuka’s voice was naturally a bit loud.

And right now, it was pickup time at Hanamaru Kindergarten. When this little one shouted something like that at the gate, it was no surprise that she drew countless curious looks.

Most of the people picking up children were housewives, and when they heard her, they turned to glance at Kotomi Izumi and Yui Yuigahama, whispering among themselves.

Beside them, Teacher Shiro froze in place, glancing from Kotomi to Yui, unable to immediately process what kind of relationship this was.

”Yuka!” Yui’s cheeks flushed red, and she quickly crouched down to whisper in her ear, ”Don’t say random things like that in front of Kotomi!”

Yuka looked at her sister with innocent confusion. Wasn’t she always talking to herself about liking Penguin Onee-chan? How was that random? In her mind, if you liked someone, you said it. Why deny it?

Hmph.

Yuka smirked inwardly. Go ahead and be shy, Onee-chan. If you act now, I can still call Penguin Onee-chan my sister-in-law. But if you wait too long, she might end up with Mom instead. Then you’ll have to call her… Mom!

Penguin Onee-chan—would she end up as her sister-in-law, or her second mom? Either way, Yuka thought, as long as she could be family with Penguin Onee-chan, she’d be happy.

She put on an innocent smile and said in her sweet little voice:

”But… I saw on TV that two people walking together are always a couple. Aren’t you and Penguin Onee-chan like that, Onee-chan?”

With one naive comment, Yuka completely diffused the earlier ”misunderstanding,” making it impossible for anyone to stay suspicious.

The stares from those around them faded. To them, it was just a kid repeating something from TV—everyone knew you couldn’t take children’s words too seriously.

”Kotomi’s not your sister’s girlfriend. I just happened to come with her to pick you up today. Are you hungry?”

”Mm, my tummy’s empty.”

Yuka patted her little belly and nodded.

Sure enough, she had gotten a bit rounder—not only were her arms and hands chubby, but her little belly stuck out too.

That round little tummy made you just want to rub it.

”Here~ your favorite takoyaki.”

Kotomi pulled out the box she had been hiding behind her bag. Yuka’s eyes lit up instantly, and she began bouncing with excitement.

”Thank you, Penguin Onee-chan!”

After taking the takoyaki, she even leaned over to kiss Kotomi on the cheek.

Yui watched enviously—she wanted to be able to kiss Kotomi like that anytime too.

Instead of eating right away, Yuka picked up a piece with the skewer and offered it to Yui. ”Onee-chan, have some.”

”So sweet of you, but I’m full from lunch. You eat it.”

Yui patted her head. Whenever Yuka got food just for herself, she always offered the first bite to Mom or her sister before eating. No one had told her to—it was just her habit.

”I’m full too,” Kotomi added, knowing Yuka’s habit well.

But Yuka still didn’t eat. She turned to Teacher Shiro and held out the skewer. ”Teacher, you have some.”

”Eh?”

Teacher Shiro was stunned, not expecting Yuka to offer her a piece. She hesitated for a moment, then remembered what she’d learned in university—that you shouldn’t reject a child’s genuine gesture, but should judge and accept selectively. So, she crouched down and took the takoyaki from Yuka.

Wow… this piece is huge… and a little hot.