This is my cousin's first day here.
*SIGH* my babysitting life has officially launched. 🥲
I made tuna rice balls, carrot tamagoyaki, and...
AI: You could try a ham and egg sandwich...
That's a good idea, but my cooking skills are terrible.
I actually considered that if she took a bite and suddenly puke — I could immediately take her to the airport convenience store to buy an authentic rice ball... and send her back to Japan.
AI: Should we buy a plane ticket first? You pervert.
I'll drop you to the Recycle Bin first, wanna try?
AI: Forgive me sire, allow me to punish myself with two slaps...
...that's more like it. 🙄
I checked the clock, almost late, so I went into the room and woke her up.
Her sleeping posture is the same as always. She might have the blanket and pillow neatly arranged before bed.
But the next day the pillow is definitely on the floor, and the blanket is definitely crumpled up and on the floor too... Do you think taking pictures and complaining to the nanny will do any good?
AI: She'll kill you first.
That's true.
I nudged Yumeko's shoulder, once... twice... and she woke up...
"AAAAAAH—!" she screamed, slapping me hard across the face as if she'd seen a ghost, yelling, "変態—! (Pervert—!)".
She rushed out of the room, running to the bathroom, leaving me with a red welt, it hurt so much. 🥲
I'm innocent—! WHAT DID I DO WRONG?! 😭😭😭
After what seemed like forever, we were officially late.
Yumeko slowly emerged from the bathroom, taking small steps to the dining table. I was scrolling on my phone, and she finally picked up her rice ball and started eating.
She seemed to realize she was wrong... and I knew I was wrong too.
Her: ね,リン...ご...ごめん... (Um…Rin...I'm...sorry...)
Me: もういいから,食べよう. (Forget it, just eat.)
Her: I'm sorry...
Yes! I heard you right! She said "I'm sorry"!
In my mother language!!!!!
IN—MY—MOTHER—LANGUAGE!!! AHHHHH—!!! 😭😭😭
I almost dropped my phone into the hot cocoa. I really don't know if this is good news or bad news.
Me: You...
Her: I'm sorry for keeping it from you...
Now that I think about it, IT WAS ME WHO STARTED TALKING TO HER IN JAPANESE!!!!
HOW EMBARRASSING!!! 😭😭😭
Me: No...it's okay, just...just eat...
Her: Um...Rin, it's been a long time...
Me: Yeah.
For some reason, this vibe is still awkward. But for sure this is our official greeting, after years.
What should I say? I was thinking that since she speaks Japanese, I wouldn't need to communicate much with her, but what happened? Huh???
I took her to school to complete the registration process, and then to her classroom, but she seemed really nervous.
Her hands were behind her back, her head was down, and she kept glancing at the classroom. Although no one noticed her, that anxious look was so familiar.
Me: あの...緊張するの?(Um…Nervous?)
Her: ん. (Yeah.)
I checked my watch... Right, I'm late.
Whatever, so it doesn't matter if I'm a little longer.
I opened a mint candy and gently pushed it into her mouth while she looked at me. She immediately turned her gaze to me, and I immediately looked away... WHY'S SHE LOOKING AT ME?! 😭😭😭
Me: 大丈夫だよ,安心してください (It's alright, don't worry.)
I straightened her tie, just like my mom used to comfort me when she took me to kindergarten.
Me: I know that teacher, she's a very nice person. See you after school, okay?
Her: わかりました. (Understood.)
After returning to the classroom, I suddenly recalled a strange situation — why the younger students in my class were staring at us. And why were Yumeko's ears red and sweaty? There was definitely air conditioning in the hallway.
AI: Rin, come on, seriously?
What?
AI: Your series of actions is practically a precise hopping between "cool programmer" and "perfect parent."
What? Parents?
AI: You don't understand how destructive it is of 'adjusting her tie and collar' to a young girl, Rin.
I was just tidying up her image, what's wrong???
AI: When you adjust her tie, didn't you realize the distance where you can practically hear each other's breath.
Speaking of that...OH MY—💀
AI: Just because you're her cousin and your previous actions have built up enough trust points. Trust me, this gesture becomes an extremely gentle coronation ceremony.
Gentle? Me? Huh?
AI: Haha, didn't you realize why her ears are turning red?
...💀
AI: Rin, I have to remind you again, although it's hot at 11 am, the school corridors do have shade or fans.
…and?
AI: Yumeko's face is most likely not because of the heat, but because her core is overheating. 🤣🤣🤣
Overheating??? Wait a minute! Why?! 🤔
AI: That means — Her heart is overloaded.
...Huh?
AI: A brother who's only a year older, doesn't talk much, and seems a bit arrogant, suddenly leans in to adjust her tie—this 'close-range attack' is like a heart rate pumper for a 14-year-old girl.
…I…I did??? HUH????? WAIT I DIDN"T MEAN IT!!!!!😭😭😭😭
AI: But there's something you did perfectly, you said you knew the teacher.
…uh…how….
AI: You know, when someone is fresh off the boat, they're most likely to fear the unknown.
Agreed, and?
AI: That means you're giving a social connection between you and her through the teacher, you're basically telling "you're not alone" to her. 😏😏😏
O…kay…the third point puts my mind at ease a little, but...I didn't mean it that way!!!
AI: Heh, stop pretending. You even flirt with your own cousin, you pervert...😏
I'M INNOCENT!!!!😭😭😭
While I was wallowing in self-reproach, Cindy suddenly slammed her hand on my desk. Luckily, I caught it in time, or I would have been scared out of my wits.
Her: Hey!
Me: Um... um, what is it this time?
Her: What's wrong with you today? Late???!!!
Me: I'm... I'm sorry...
Her eyes seemed to be looking at trash or kitchen waste, you can imagine that right?
Which deepened my guilt but she didn't glare at me for long. She just humphed and left shortly.
She truly lives up to her reputation as the tigress of Class 3A.
After school, Cindy called again… to send the books…
I already said I was tired, but she took it as an excuse. THIS PERSON IS UNREASONABLE!!! 😭😭😭
Her: Hey.
I ignored her. I didn't have the energy or the mood to talk to her.
Her: Hello!?
Okay, she asked for it. 🙄
Me: Huh?
Her: Who moved into your place recently? It seems like there's someone coming and going.
Me: Why are you paying attention to my place?
Her: Well... there's a stranger coming and going in the apartment... It's dangerous.
I think you're the one more dangerous than an international student here. This is an invasion of my privacy. She knows who comes and goes in my house???
Me: No, it's just that there's someone else living with me now...
Her: Living with you???
Why is she reacting so strongly? Does she want the whole world to know?! ???
She: With...with whom?
I started to get annoyed with her.
Me: What's it to you? Who are you by the way?
I asked the same thing again.
She: I—I am—
Me: Tell me when you think of it.
After walking for a while, she suddenly stopped. I looked at her, and her face turned red, like a tomato.
She suddenly started moving, and then...she kicked me! Ouch! 😭😭😭
THIS GIRL IS REALLY CRAZY!!!!😭😭😭
The pain made me drop a huge stack of books I was carrying.
Ugh, bad luck. 🥲
But if we're talking about strange things, Yumeko is even stranger.
After school, I saw her squatting by the gate with her backpack against her legs, hugging her knees, seemingly lost in thought. Maybe she was really wondering why she had to bother me?
I walked out the door, and she seemed...not Yes, she clearly saw me walk out; Cindy can vouch for that.
But she seemed to glance at me, as if she wanted to follow, but after a few steps she squatted back down. Stomach ache? Afraid I'd eat her? What's going on?
Until I reached her, she looked up at me.
Me: お待たせってごめん,じゃ,帰ろう (Sorry to keep you waiting, well, let's go home)
I reached out and helped her up, and we went home together. Strange! How old is she? Do I have to coax her like a child to go home?
AI: You're hopeless.
What now? 🙄
AI: Just…Imagine Yumeko's perspective, she had just been fed candy by you this morning and just felt supported abroad.
...no wait, what're you trying to say???
AI: She sensed the Shocking Event — seeing you walking with another girl, she'll feel like a burden.
I didn't say that.
AI: Come on, she doesn't know whether she should go over, or if you remember you're supposed to pick her up.
I hope she's not that dumb.
AI: Hopefully, if you don't go to her, she might feel like she's been "Automatically uninstalled" from your system.
Is that necessary???
AI: Trust me, what you just said, though simple, is the highest level of system repair patch for her.
So...she's insecure? For what???
AI: You could say that, but your outstretched hand has become her safe haven abroad.
Right, why did I reach out? And why was Cindy glaring at me after school?
NOT OKAY!!! SHE'S BEING SCARY HERE!!!!😭😭😭
Especially at the door. When Cindy opened her door, yeah she's my neighbour.
Yumeko bowed slightly to her, and Cindy glared at her, snorted, and slammed the door shut. Yumeko was terrified.
She: リン,な...何か間違ったの?(Rin, did…did I do something wrong?)
Me: なんでもないよ,無視してください,あいつ頭が壊れた (Nothing, just ignore her, her head was damaged)
Her: ん (Okay)
Afterwards, I prepared dinner, and everyone went about their own business after eating.
Soon after, Yumeko went to sleep.
Honestly, I'm already exhausted from spending the first day with her.
Tell you a sad story — This is Just The End of First Day…🥲