As it turned out, I was wrong—spectacularly wrong.
Not only did she maintain a steady 60 mph through the city streets, but on the highway, she pushed it past 100 mph.
The way she handled those curves with practiced ease made me half-convinced she was trying to fill up a nitro bar for a second-stage boost.
I’d expected the ride to be thrilling and nerve-wracking, but I’d severely underestimated the tolerance levels of the other two passengers.
Aunt Anrou scrolled through news on her phone, occasionally calling out reminders, while Evin beside me showed no sign of fear at all—in fact, she looked downright excited, staring out the window at the city scenery blurring past.
The only normal one among us was me, clinging to my seatbelt and trembling.
“Aren’t you scared at all?”
“Hmm, isn’t bumper cars way scarier than this?” Evin tilted her head in thought. “At least Sister Yuyu won’t deliberately crash into anything, right?”
It sounded oddly reasonable, leaving me momentarily speechless.
Thankfully, we arrived safely in the end. Only after getting out did I realize we were at a massive shopping complex.
A bad feeling immediately crept over me. “Let me just say this upfront—I already have plenty of clothes!”
The ones I’d bought last time had barely been worn, and they’d already filled an entire closet. I didn’t want—or have the ability—to expand my storage any further.
“Hehe, we’ll see about that.”
Aunt Yuyu grinned mischievously and wagged her finger. “I can guarantee there’s one thing Tongtong definitely doesn’t have.”
“Lingerie?” Before Aunt Yuyu could finish, Evin’s gaze instinctively drifted to a certain part of my body.
“Pfft.” Aunt Anrou couldn’t hold back her laughter.
My face burned with embarrassment as I pinched the cheeks of the twin-tailed girl pretending to be innocent. “Even if they’re on the small side, I still have training bras, idiot!”
“Wrong. The answer is a swimsuit.”
Aunt Yuyu coughed to stifle her laughter after being startled by Evin’s guess, then revealed the correct answer.
“Wait a second… don’t tell me…” I vaguely remembered seeing some kind of sign on the mall directory at the entrance.
“You got it—it’s the pool! The greatest joy of summer is soaking in a nice, cool pool and swimming to your heart’s content!”
Liar. Just a few days ago, you said the best part was eating shaved ice.
I couldn’t help wanting to point that out, but when I came back to my senses, the other two were already looking eager.
“That actually sounds pretty nice. I’ve been meaning to get a new swimsuit anyway—the old one’s gotten a little tight.” Aunt Anrou nodded and glanced down at herself. Even an idiot could tell exactly where it had gotten tight.
“Swimsuit…” Evin’s eyes lit up beside me. No need to guess what she was looking forward to.
So I decisively hit the “Decline Party Invite” button.
“I’m not going.”
Everyone looked puzzled. After all, on such a hot day, who would turn down the chance to cool off in a pool?
“Ah, I almost forgot.” Seeing my firm refusal, Aunt Anrou suddenly remembered something. “Don’t worry, we’ll get a swim ring for little Tongtong.”
“That’s more like it…” I finally let out a sigh of relief.
Only then did two strange gazes turn toward me.
“So you’re still a land duck, huh,” Aunt Yuyu teased with a sneaky smile.
“You take baths every day and still can’t swim,” Evin shook her head, putting on a look that said her mom was very disappointed in her kid.
And that successfully earned her a crossface lock from me.
“Try learning to swim in a bathtub, why don’t you.”
In the end, though, we each picked out swimsuits at the swimwear store attached to the complex.
Century Plaza East Wing—Swimming Center Changing Room.
“By the way, why not go to the bay area? That would fit your idea even better, right, Yuyu?”
Anrou tied her long hair into a ponytail with a hair tie, trading her usual gentle elegance for a refreshing, energetic vibe.
The purple two-piece swimsuit she wore perfectly accentuated her graceful figure, adding a touch of mature charm.
“Sister Anrou really is out of the loop on news. The facilities at the bay still aren’t finished—they won’t let anyone in yet. But it’s almost done; probably just a few more months.”
Yuyu stored her clothes in the electronic locker, rolled her eyes, and looked playfully cute in her orange halter swimsuit.
“A few months, and summer will be over.”
“You can swim any time, not just in summer.”
Anrou nodded. “True. But Yuyu, isn’t this one a little too revealing?”
“It suits you perfectly.”
Yuyu giggled. “Looking at those gorgeous curves, I wonder which lucky guy will get to marry Sister Anrou someday.”
Before she could elaborate, she got a light knock on the head.
“Cut it out. I shouldn’t have listened to you and picked this one.” Anrou’s cheeks flushed as she grumbled and tapped Yuyu’s forehead. She glanced toward the back row of changing cubicles. “Speaking of which, are Tongtong and Evin still not ready?”
Yuyu stuck out her tongue. “I’ll go call them.”
Right then, Evin stepped out of her cubicle. “Hehe, aren’t I super charming? So, An An—have I completely enchanted you yet?”
“Huh? Where’s An An?” Evin looked left and right after emerging, but the figure she’d been dying to see was nowhere in sight. Instead, someone else had their eyes locked on her.
The sailor-style one-piece swimsuit perfectly highlighted her petite, adorable frame, and paired with her twin tails, no loli lover could possibly resist such temptation.
“Very cute,” Anrou said with a gentle smile. Yuyu beside her was already reaching out with greedy hands.
“Too cute—let big sis hug you!”
She couldn’t let a tasty little loli like this slip away—after all, on top of being a doting aunt, she was also a full-blown loli enthusiast.
“No problem, leave it to me!”
But after hearing Anrou’s explanation, Evin’s cute eyes sparkled with excitement. She spun around, yanked open the curtain of the neighboring cubicle, and slipped inside without a second thought for the person left hanging.
Anrou couldn’t help chuckling as Yuyu pounced on empty air.
“Still not ready, An An? Having trouble tying something? I can help~”
Evin barged in expecting a delightful sight, only to find none of it. “Darn it, you’re already dressed!”
“Wait—this is somehow even sexier!”
Seeing me holding up my tube top while tying the ribbons at my back, exposing most of my fair chest, her eyes gleamed with excitement again as she reached out with wicked little hands.
Only when I felt an odd sensation on my chest did I realize what was happening. “E-Eh?! Why did you come in here? Don’t just touch whatever you want!”
“Who told An An to be so cute? I have to strike first or someone else will snatch you away.” Evin showed no embarrassment at being caught—in fact, her hands mischievously climbed higher.
“Hehe, so soft and small… the feel is amazing…”
But soon she noticed something off. “Huh? Why is it caving in?”
When she opened her eyes, she found herself holding only the swimsuit’s tube top. Looking up, she saw me with one hand shielding my chest and the other clenched tight.
Evin froze for a moment, then promptly threw up a salute.
“Wait, I know I was wrong!”
“Pfft, you think I’ll let you off that easily?”
“I swear it was An An’s chest that made the first move.”
“That thing doesn’t even exist.”
“You can’t give up on yourself, An An… Ow, that hurts!”
After thoroughly teaching her a lesson, I finally stepped out of the changing cubicle. Evin pouted pitifully and trailed behind me.
Aunt Yuyu, who’d been waiting outside out of boredom, instinctively turned when she heard us. Her eyes immediately lit up.
The overall pinkish-white palette, the delicate ruffles layered at the chest adorned with a bow, and the skirt hem tied with sheer white gauze—it was hazy and dreamlike.
Though it didn’t reveal much skin, it perfectly accentuated the wearer’s dainty, exquisite figure, making her look exceptionally petite and lovable.
It was enough to make a certain niece-obsessed individual lose all self-control.
So while I was busy pushing away Evin as she tried to snuggle up, a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around me from behind, and a cheek pressed close. “Ahh, this swimsuit really suits you. Tongtong is so cute I just can’t stop myself.”
“W-Wait, Aunt Yuyu…”
Seeing me tangled up with the niece fanatic, Evin rolled her eyes mischievously. Completely forgetting how badly I’d just punished her, she sidled up from the other side. “Hehe, of course—An An is the cutest!”
I suddenly felt the urgent need to sow some discord between these two, or my days ahead would only get tougher.
“Stop messing around, you two. Let go of little Tongtong.”
Thankfully, Aunt Anrou appeared after putting away her clothes and rescued me.
In the peak of summer heat, a cool swimming pool was a beloved escape for many. As one of the city’s more famous large swimming centers, no matter where you looked, crowds of lively people filled the view.
Guys seemed intent on showing off their muscular builds, while girls wanted to flaunt their beauty and allure—resulting in swimsuits that bared generous amounts of skin and showcased varying degrees of “combat power” up top.
Even the smallest among them still drew attention from certain niche groups. For instance, at one pool, passersby—both girls and boys—kept stealing glances.
If the twin-tailed girl in the sailor-style swimsuit was the lively little imp type, then the loli in white beside her was the pure, pity-inducing girl-next-door.
Two different flavors of cuteness combined, plus their affectionate playfulness with each other, instantly healed the hearts of many onlookers.
“So cute!”
“I wanna take both home and keep them forever.”
“Ugh, I’m melting~”
The subjects of their discussion were naturally Evin and me. But while the onlookers saw loving banter, in reality it was a one-sided beatdown—the swordswoman bullying the designer.
“An An, that really hurt.”
“Stop saying weird stuff, idiot.” Hearing the voice beside me, I couldn’t help the sweatdrop. “You want another beating?”
Evin instinctively clutched her head, remembering the terror of being dominated. “So mean. Sister Yuyu joined in too—why am I the only one getting hit?”
“Because you’re the only one I can beat.” I rolled my eyes.
“You should challenge yourself sometimes—that’s how you grow.”
Evin pouted.
I nearly stumbled but was saved from falling into the water by my swim ring. “Don’t talk like we’re running a dungeon.”
I blocked her face as she tried to nuzzle closer again, suddenly remembering something. “Right—how did things go with talking to your mom like I told you to?”
Evin turned away and scratched her cheek. “Um… it’s not like everything got perfect overnight, but we can talk normally now. She’s not forcing me to do stuff I hate anymore…”
Hearing her description, I knew the wall between them had finally cracked. Now it just needed time to wear down completely.
“Um…”
I was about to offer more advice when Evin’s hesitant voice cut in. Suddenly a warm body crashed into my arms.
I blinked, instinctively about to push her away, but then I saw Evin’s unusually serious little face. “Thank you, An An.”
“If I hadn’t met you, I might never have been able to talk properly with Mom like this.” Evin hugged me tighter.
I pretty much understood. This girl had always wanted a normal mother-daughter relationship; she just wasn’t good at expressing it.
Her mom was probably the strong-willed type, so things had stayed tense between them.
Until I pointed it out and broke the ice.
I sighed and patted the small head buried in my chest. “Don’t make it sound so dramatic. It might’ve taken a long time, but someday you two would’ve understood each other. After all, you truly love your mom from the bottom of your heart, just like she loves you.”
I lectured her like a life coach.
“So remember to communicate more from now on—don’t bottle everything up.”
“Mmm…”
“Try not to talk back. If she’s really wrong, say it clearly.”
“Mmm…”
Something felt off. Her hands seemed to be wandering.
“Enjoying the groping?”
“Mmm… E-Eh?! I wasn’t touching anything weird…”
She answered automatically before realizing what she’d said.
But I wasn’t giving this repeat offender any chance to explain. “You think I’ll believe you, you little pervert!”
“Ow…”
“Serves you right.” I huffed as I watched her clutch her head miserably, rubbing my slightly sore hand.
At that moment, Aunt Anrou and Aunt Yuyu returned after swimming a lap.
Seeing me paddling slowly with my swim ring, Aunt Yuyu’s eyes sparkled. She swam over. “Tongtong, let Aunt teach you how to swim~”
The excited look on her pretty face made it obvious what she was scheming. I couldn’t help hesitating.
Aunt Anrou was just wiping off her wet body nearby. “I’ll go buy drinks. What does everyone want?”
I immediately latched onto my savior. “I’ll go, Aunt Anrou! You two must be tired from swimming.”
“I’m not tired at all,” Aunt Yuyu stressed.
But I acted like I hadn’t heard, looking pleadingly at Aunt Anrou.
She smiled in amusement and patted my head. “Then bring me a lemon water, okay?”
“Mission accepted!” I hurriedly climbed out of the pool. Evin followed right behind. “I’ll go too.”
“I’ll come with you—otherwise you might run into bad people and be in danger.”
Aunt Yuyu tried to get out as well, but Aunt Anrou pushed her back down. “You’re the biggest bad guy here.”
“…Then bring me a watermelon juice, Tongtong.” Resigned to her fate, Aunt Yuyu said with a sulky face.
“Roger that.” I secretly smirked.
The cold drink shop wasn’t far from the swimming center exit. Staring at the dazzling menu overhead, I asked the twin-tailed girl beside me, “What do you want to drink?”
“An An’s saliva?” Evin tilted her head in thought.
“…You want another beating? They don’t even sell that here.”
“Hmm, then the same as An An.”
After paying, I stood off to the side waiting for the drinks to be made. Out of boredom, I glanced around and noticed a kid about our age standing not far away.
They looked… a little unusual.
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