"Right, your bedroom's this way."
Hayashi Shuichi looked at his sister with concern, wondering if her fever had muddled her sense of direction.
"Not my bedroom," Reiko said, clinging to his neck like a spoiled kitten, squirming lightly. "Last night, Onii-chan promised if I got sick, you'd sleep with me."
Her eyes sparkled with expectation, a hint of slyness flickering within.
Hayashi Shuichi frowned, suspicious. "You didn't catch a cold on purpose just to sleep in my room, did you?"
"Onii-chan, I'm not an idiot! Who'd do something that dumb?" Reiko huffed. "Yukiko-nee might…"
"Yukiko wouldn't either," Hayashi Shuichi said, then paused, picturing Fujimine Yukiko's mischievous nature. His tone softened. "She probably wouldn't, right?"
"Onii-chan, don't change the subject!" Reiko pouted, indignant. "Hurry and take me to your room, or are you breaking your promise?"
Her fake illness the previous night had already set a bad precedent.
Hayashi Shuichi couldn't back out now. He carried her to his bedroom, gently placing her on the bed.
Tucking her in, he turned to head to the kitchen, but Reiko grabbed his clothes. "Onii-chan, don't go."
"What now?" Hayashi Shuichi gave a wry smile, finding her clinginess both endearing and exasperating.
"Hmph, you're annoyed?" Reiko pouted, turning to face the wall, her eyes brimming with grievance. "Back home, when I was sick, you were never impatient."
"I'm getting your medicine," Hayashi Shuichi said, gently holding her hand. "And I'll make some green onion-ginger water. It'll help you recover faster."
"I don't want that—it tastes weird," Reiko said, wrinkling her nose. "Onii-chan, tell me a story."
"You're too old for…" Hayashi Shuichi started, but seeing her pout deepen, he sighed. "Fine, if you want a story, I'll tell one."
He sat on the bed. Reiko snuggled up, resting her head on his lap, eagerly saying, "I want Dream of the Red Chamber. Did Jia Baoyu marry his cousin Lin Daiyu?"
"The last forty chapters of Dream of the Red Chamber were lost, but someone wrote a continuation," Hayashi Shuichi said, thinking. "I believe Jia Baoyu married Xue Baochai."
"What about his Lin-meimei?" Reiko asked anxiously.
"On Jia Baoyu's wedding day, Lin Daiyu cried herself to death, coughing up blood," Hayashi Shuichi said, a trace of regret in his voice.
"Onii-chan, I hate that ending!" Reiko clenched her fists, pounding the bed, her face flushed with anger. "Why did Jia Baoyu marry Xue Baochai? Cousins should marry cousins!"
Hayashi Shuichi laughed, pinching her chubby cheeks. "Who said cousins have to marry?"
"I don't care! Jia Baoyu should marry Lin Daiyu!" Reiko insisted. "Onii-chan, tell me a story with that ending!"
Hayashi Shuichi had no choice but to improvise. "According to the Wood and Stone Oath, with Grandmother Jia's blessing, Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu got engaged…"
His storytelling was clumsy compared to Cao Xueqin or even Gao E, but Reiko listened intently, eyes fixed on him.
When he reached Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu's wedding night, Reiko shyly buried her face in his chest, murmuring, "That's the right ending. Onii-chan, how many kids would they have?"
Hayashi Shuichi chuckled. "Lin Daiyu's health was poor, so maybe one."
"…A baby," Reiko giggled dreamily, lost in thought.
"Story's done. Rest now," Hayashi Shuichi said, tucking her in. "I'll make lunch."
As he reached the door, Reiko called out, "Onii-chan, if I'm Lin Daiyu, would you be my Brother Bao?"
"No way I'd be Jia Baoyu!" Hayashi Shuichi replied instantly.
"Why not?" Reiko's eyes widened, disappointed.
"Jia Baoyu's a useless guy," Hayashi Shuichi scoffed. "He couldn't support his family and let Lin Daiyu die of heartbreak."
"So, Onii-chan thinks Jia Baoyu should've married Lin Daiyu?" Reiko's eyes sparkled.
"Not just her—Xue Baochai, Shi Xiangyun, Qingwen…" Hayashi Shuichi rattled off names. "All those great girls should've been married. A man shouldn't let the women who love him suffer."
"Onii-chan!" Reiko huffed, biting her lip. "I'm done with you! Go find your Xue Baochai and Shi Xiangyun!"
…
Downstairs, in the izakaya.
Hayashi Shuichi stood by the stove, cooking Reiko's favorite fruit porridge.
The simmering rice porridge, mixed with colorful fruits, filled the air with a sweet, fragrant aroma.
"Porridge for lunch too?" Mouri Kogoro entered, disappointed. "Reiko's got a cold and a fever," Hayashi Shuichi said, stirring to prevent sticking. "This is for her."
"Is it bad?" Mouri Kogoro asked, concerned.
"Not too bad. Probably caught it yesterday in the rain. She'll be fine after a day's rest," Hayashi Shuichi replied.
"Good," Mouri Kogoro sighed. "I was gonna ask you to hang out, but you'll stay to take care of your sister, right, Reiko's good brother?"
"Obviously," Hayashi Shuichi said, rolling his eyes. "Where are you off to?"
"Ahem," Mouri Kogoro looked awkward. "You guys were gone yesterday, so I got bored and called Ruri to hang out."
"A date, huh?" Hayashi Shuichi grinned, realization dawning.
He eyed Mouri Kogoro, noting his crisp shirt and neatly styled hair.
"No wonder you're so dressed up today. Got a hot date, huh…"
(Chapter End)
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