Of Course It's A Lie

Family

She traipsed through the front door and took off her shoes, her heart thudding.

She wasn't quiet enough.

"Nuu-chhi! Nuu-chhi!" A voice came flying at her as the young girl literally threw herself at Nunoe.

"Fuuuyuuu," Nunoe groaned. "How many times have I told you, so clearly, 'don't call me that, and don't run at me?'"

"But Nuuuuu-chhi," Fuyu pressed, her eyes as wide as coins. "I did it!"

Nunoe paused. "You did?"

"I'm top of the class!" Fuyu whispered, her eyes gleaming.

"Kyaaa~!!" Nunoe cheered inarticulately, hugging her sister and holding her up in the air. Fuyu giggled, her long hair whipping around as Nunoe paraded into the kitchen with her sister in her arms.

"Heard the news?" Their mother smiled at them, inviting them to sit at the dining table.

"Oh, Fuyu, I'm so proud of you!" Nunoe breathed, her eyes getting blurry.

"Ah, don't cry, Nuu-chhi!" Fuyu shook her head, smiling. "I did it for you to laugh for once, not cry!"

"Hush, now, your sister has done something neither you nor I have ever done, Nunoe," their mother said, eyes twinkling. "Top in exams, now, what are we going to do with you?"

Fuyu just laughed. Nunoe smiled, surreptitiously brushing her tears away with her thumb.

"Anyhow, we'll go out for dinner tomorrow evening, Nunoe, that's what we're going to do with your sister. You'd best get your homework done before then, okay, dear?"

Nunoe nodded in response. Her heart as heavy with joy as a metal cart that had been burdened with a thousand pounds of gold.