The Strings of Human Bonds

I was sipping through my can of choccy milk while walking back from the convenience store with a bag full of daily amenities. The store was quite empty considering it was a Sunday and most people rushed to buy stuff.

I enjoyed the fact that I lived independently sometimes.

Shiraishi has been acting weird for the last few days and deliberately trying to avoid me. She didn't even come to check up on me when I passed out last Friday. Though it's not like it mattered much, but as my girlfriend apparently, she should have.

I was still wondering about what I did that rubbed her the wrong way.

"Is that Saishi Nii-chan?" I heard a high pitched cheerful voice call out my name as I looked around to search for the person.

Judging by the voice, it sounded to be from a kid. But I wasn't good with kids, so never really interacted with one. They also referred to me as 'Nii-chan' which surprised me a bit too since I hadn't that close of a bond with any kid.