However, the old uncle's days weren't entirely spent playing with little Yoimiya.
He would also go play with little Ayaka.
But the old uncle didn't choose to take the carriage.
Instead, he chose to fly to the Kamisato Residence while carrying little Eula.
By controlling the Anemo element to accelerate, flying was still faster than running.
It took less than fifteen minutes for him to fly with little Eula right up to the front of the Kamisato Residence.
"Kirara? Hey? Wake up?"
Kirara, who was experiencing flying this high for the very first time, was so frightened that she seemed a bit out of it.
The old uncle could only helplessly shake the little cat's body a few times.
"Everything's spinning... the sky is falling..."
Oh no, Kirara the cat's delirious rambling had gotten even worse.
This was truly baffling. She had been by his side for quite some time now—how come she still hadn't learned how to meow properly?
Her voice was drifting further and further away from anything resembling a cat...
The old uncle felt a headache coming on, but the headache didn't last long.
Because little Ayaka opened the door to welcome the old uncle.
"Old uncle, welcome to the Kamisato Residence."
Really, when little Ayaka opened the door, her smile was super sweet. Combined with her polite and perfectly proper demeanor, plus that adorable head tilt...
This was the true "door-opening kill"!
The old uncle had absolutely no resistance!
He immediately chose to hang the fox-speak-spouting little kitty Kirara on his shoulder and stopped bothering with her.
She'd probably return to normal in a little while anyway.
The old uncle extended his hand, and little Ayaka very naturally placed her own hand in his palm.
Really...
She was just too well-behaved!
Little Ayaka's "well-behaved" nature was completely different from little Shenhe's.
Little Shenhe's obedience was the quiet, gentle kind that nourished without fanfare. No one had taught her how to be obedient, but because of her family circumstances—her gravely ill mother and her love-struck father—she had learned to act like the perfect good child. So little Shenhe was inwardly obedient in a way that made people feel a little heartbroken for her. Fortunately, there was a solution: as long as you were willing to reach out and pull little Shenhe along, she would happily stay obedient and follow you forever. The only problem was that if you stopped taking the initiative later, little Shenhe would just watch you from afar and not dare to disturb you.
That's why, when the old uncle was with little Shenhe, he was always careful to take the lead and hold her hand, gradually helping her become more outgoing. At the very least, once she had built friendships with other children, even if she remained naturally introverted, the old uncle could finally rest easy.
But little Ayaka's obedience was the fully outward, manifest kind. Coming from a complete and happy family with strict but never neglected upbringing and education, little Ayaka—who had no tendency toward self-doubt—would act as the perfect good child according to everything she had been taught.
She would proactively observe your mood and adjust her behavior accordingly.
She would take the initiative to resolve your troubles, or—if you were tired—she would refrain from disturbing you.
This was the complete opposite extreme from little Shenhe's longing mixed with fear of taking action.
Little Ayaka wasn't afraid of rejection either. If she was turned down, she would feel very sad, but the next time she felt it was okay, she would still come find you to play.
And at this moment, little Ayaka was holding the old uncle's hand as she led him into the living room.
Meanwhile, little Ayato was watching from the adjacent side room, furious but not daring to speak out.
This wouldn't do! His adorable little sister seemed to be getting nicer and nicer toward this creepy old uncle!
If things continued like this...
What if one day the boy his little sister trusted the most turned out to be that old uncle?
"Ayato, calm your mind."
This was his mother's gentle admonishment.
Little Ayato took a deep breath...
But he still felt it was useless...
Right now, his adorable little sister was playing together with that old uncle!
The time he himself could openly play with his adorable little sister was already so limited!
Normally, they only got to do homework together!
Was there any way to keep that old uncle from getting so close to little Ayaka?
Little Ayato subconsciously recalled the idea he had thought of earlier while standing outside the house...
Cross-dressing...