Chapter 3 – Brothers and Rivalry
Life at one year old was simple and exhausting. Ai did her best, but no matter how she attempted to smile, there was always a tired look in her eyes. Three babies simultaneously would drain anyone of energy. Ruby wanted to be picked up all the time, Aqua had this constant analytical expression, and I… I tried my best to be the middle child.
Still, my "balance" was tested every day—especially by Aqua.
"Alex," Aqua called one afternoon, while we were both on the playmat.
I didn't move.
"…Alex," he repeated, frowning, his baby voice still clumsy.
Nothing.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!"
I leaned my head, feigning unawareness. At last, I pouted and crossed my arms and puffed out my cheeks. "Not Alex. Oni-san."
His face twisted in irritation. "You're not oni-san, you're Alex!"
"No! Oni-san. I'm the oldest, Aqua. Call me properly."
"No way. You don't look like an oni-san," he shot back, pointing at me with his tiny finger.
Ruby who sat next to me with her toy watched the drama as if it were her beloved soap opera. One second after, she joined the conversation using her squeaky, soft voice.
"If not Alex, then Oni-san."
"Nini~!" she crawled towards me and tugged on my sleeve. "Nini, play!"
I beamed. That was good enough. If Ruby could call me nini, eventually Aqua would have no choice but to give in.
Aqua groaned, rubbing his little head as though the weight of the world was on his tiny shoulders. "Tch… Ruby, don't encourage him."
Ruby giggled innocently and plopped into my lap. "Nini!"
I smirked at Aqua in triumph. "See? She understands. You should learn from her, little brother."
"Little—?! We're twins! You're not older!"
"Actually, I am. By a few minutes. Which makes me the oni-san."
The argument became a daily routine, a sibling ritual that Ai sometimes overheard. She never failed to laugh, covering her mouth with one hand. "Oh my, you two really do sound like brothers. Poor Ruby, caught in the middle of her silly oni-sans."
Ruby, of course, didn't mind. She enjoyed calling both of us differently: Aqua was "ni-san" and I was "nini" or "oni-san." It was her way of keeping the peace, though it always fueled Aqua's annoyance.
Days passed, and with them came progress. My body grew stronger. I could now stand for longer periods, take a few steps without support, and even balance while holding toys. Each time I succeeded, the system responded faintly.
Ding!
Strength +0.2, Agility +0.2.
Basic Body Movement Lv. 3 → Lv. 4.
Ai's eyes sparkled whenever she noticed. "Alex, you're growing so fast…!"
Ruby followed close behind, humming while she tried to mimic Ai's singing. Her sweet little voice wasn't strong yet, but it was already charming.
Ding!
Charisma +0.2.
Basic Singing Lv. 1 → Lv. 2.
Aqua, however, remained more to himself in silence, watching. He had seconds where he maintained my stare a tad too long—as if he was unsure of something. It set me on alert. Then, he'd scurry over and bang his head on mine.
"You're weird," he muttered one night, both of us lying in the crib.
"Better than being grumpy," I whispered back.
"…Still not calling you oni-san."
I grinned, satisfied. The battle would go on forever.
By the time we turned two, the house was filled with chaos. Ruby insisted on being the center of attention, Aqua picked fights with me almost daily, and I focused on small, deliberate progress. Whether it was stacking blocks, humming, or walking steadily, every effort meant growth.
One afternoon, Ai placed us in front of a mirror. Ruby clapped her hands, delighted at her reflection. Aqua tilted his head, serious as always.
I remained frozen. Standing beside us, I saw just how much Aqua and I looked alike. Essentially a clone—same blonde hair, same face, the only difference being my eyes: one blue eye, one ruby red.
Ai put her arms around me from behind, her chin on the top of my head. "Alex, you're very special. My little jewel."
Her sympathy overpowered me, yet, at the same time, a sense of uneasiness swept my chest. Being too much like Aqua could be a fault in the future. I clinched my tiny fists. Then I'll just have to make sure that I become someone else. Someone better.
That night, the system's weekly log appeared again.
Progress Log – Week 78 (1.5 years)
Walked ten steps without falling: Strength +0.3, Agility +0.3 (Basic Body Movement Lv. 4 → Lv. 5)
Said "Mama" clearly: Charisma +0.2
Held a toy while balancing: Strength +0.2, Agility +0.1
Played "sing along" with Ruby: Charisma +0.2 (Basic Singing Lv. 2 → Lv. 3)
Tried to stack blocks: Intelligence +0.3, Perception +0.2
[Comprehension System]
Name: Alexandrite Hoshino
Age: 1 years and 6 months
STR: 3.8
AGI: 3.5
INT: 13.0
CHA: 4.5
PER: 2.6
Skills:
Mumble (Lv. 2)
Basic Body Movement (Lv. 5)
Basic Singing (Lv. 3)