Humility is an important trait to have, especially in the military, overestimating yourself; it can get you killed, or worse:
You piss off your superiors.
Even as a Japanese, I always stayed modest, with the idea that to boast was a petty excuse for attention and to boost ones self-esteem.
Whenever I thought about bragging anything, I am quickly disgusted at my own thoughts.
I might start pitying myself.
And in front of me, my father gazes at me, curious to know my salary.
After having an inner monologue about how modest I am, here I am, moments away from potentially flaunting.
I didn't want to, but I've already accepted that I am human myself, and all humans want to brag about something at some point in their life, even if just once.
Also, it'd be satisfying to see the look on his face, when I say:
"¥2 Million, monthly"
3 seconds have passed, until
My father, my mother, and Komachi had the same look on their faces.
Surprise.
It was then, Komachi shouted:
"WHAAT!?!!? Onii-chan's rich?!?! How?!?
My mother, asking the same:
"Yes!! She's right! What is your job anyway?!? What do you actually do?!"
My fathers mouth, gaping wide, still.
Until.
*Sigh~*
My father, with a tired and defeated tone said:
"Fine, it's your win, now tell us, how can you make that much?"
I can sense sadness, defeat, and disappointment within him as he asked the question.
With nothing left to hide, I answered their inquiry.
*Sigh*"Fine, I have a high position in the U.S. military"
Though I did not tell them exact information, what I gave them will be enough.
"""Wow""'
They all said in unison.
"Wow! Onii-chan, does that mean you're like the boss in the military?"
Komachi beamed with curiosity, the same as my parents.
"No, I'm not the boss, but I still hold some control"
As high of a position it was, I still had many people above me, I still get orders from superiors, and I only have a small amount of control.
"So, like, how many people do you boss around?"
Komachi questions once more.
(Seriously, this little sister of mine, how much is she gonna interrogate me?)
"I can't tell you that"
Family or not, classified info is classified.
"Ohhh c'mon! You can tell Komachi, right?"
(Ughhh, she's abusing my love for her)
"Nothing exact, I control a fair amount, ok?"
I can probably command a tiny amount?
But anything more than that, I can't do.
"Okay, what about this Onii-chan?"
"Hmm?"
A signal of curiosity came from me.
"Any war stories?"
Komachi, asking again.
"I have nothing to tell you besides; Onii-chan doesn't want to talk about that for now"
Truly, war is dirty, therefore anything dirty will not be shown to Komachi.
"Uhhhh! Finnnnnneeee!"
Komachi, dissatisfied.
Before Komachi tries to ask yet again, I beat her to the chase.
"What about Komachi, what happened to her while I was gone?"
Komachi, with eyes growing enormous instantly, she shot looks to both Mom and Dad, as if pleading them.
In return the both of them looked to Komachi in understanding.
(What's going on? What's happening? What are they doing? Why were they looking at each other like that?)
As if she caught on about me looking at them, Komachi told me:
"Wh-what? It's n-nothing Onii-chan, why are you looking at us like that?"
Her voice, it was...stuttering
I can see it, sweat.
She's hiding something from me, and from the look she gave, it's clear, she was hushing our parents to keep quiet as well.
(I don't know what she's hiding, but I'll let her off for now, I'll eventually figure it out anyway)
To move on from this discussion, I asked again.
"Did Komachi finish high school?"
Komachi answered loud and clear.
"Of course I did Onii-chan!! What do you take me for?! An airhead?!"
"Of course not"
(A little)
"I know you're smart"
(Sometimes, you're a sly fox, other times, airhead)
"Of course I knew you'd graduate, I just wanted a confirmation"
(And I've already seen your graduation picture)
"Hmph! Of course, I'm Komachi after all!"
She said with pride, puffing out her chest even.
"What about college?"
I continued.
"After graduating from Sobu High, I finished college, with high marks even!"
I marched on further.
"Now, what do you do?"
"I work as a teacher"
"Which school?"
"Sobu high!"
(Well that's surprising)
"Well that's surprising"
"I know! Right? I never thought I'd be a teacher, but you know what, I enjoy the job, and it's nice when kids admire and rely on me"
(You just want the feeling of being relied on, don't you?)
"You just want the feeling of being relied on, don't you?"
Hearing that, she does a classic move.
"Teehee!"
(Don't Teehee me!)
Komachi, talking yet again, but now in a more serious tone, with emotions of fondness.
"But in all seriousness I do enjoy the job, Onii-chan"
(Oh, would you look at that, looks like you do like your job, if that's the case, then I have no qualms)
"If that's the case, I won't object"
"Yeah, thanks Onii-chan"
"It's really fun you know? Talking with my students makes me feel young again, and it reminds me of the good old days"
"Okay, okay"
"I even had a few boys come up to me, confessing"
(What? Brats are trying to get to Komachi?)
"Okay, here's what we're gonna do, you quit your job, I'll support you for the rest of my life, and you tell me the names of those brats so I can hunt them down"
The plan is set, now all that is left is for Komachi to answer "Yes!"
"I never have to work again?"
(Yes! She's taking the bait)
"Onii-chan, as appealing as that sounds, I don't want to become a NEET that relies on their siblings, and I also don't want you to get arrested"
(Sigh* She does have a point)
"Besides, being a NEET that relies on their sibling is your job, Onii-chan"
(As bad as it sounds to other people, it doesn't to me)
"Hey, I've got a job, drop the NEET part, just call me a brother that isn't on the job right now and is sometimes relying on his sister"
Komachi answers nonchalantly.
"Jeez, this brother of mine never changes, you may have a job, but you still sound like a NEET, are you gonna be like that till 60?"
(To be fair, I only have 8 years of service left, then I'll be a total NEET, but not a useless NEET)
"Even if I'm lazy, I still get paid, big win for me"
(Hurray! For government benefits!)
And with that Komachi protests in jealousy.
"That's so unfair!"
(No, it isn't, considering what I do for a living, this is the least they can do for me)
"You're not even gonna use most of your money aren't you? you're a cheapskate after all!"
(I have no problem with that)
"You don't even have friends either, after all!"
(Rude, I have trusted colleagues)
With nothing but silence, Komachi makes another question.
"Hey Onii-chan"
"Hmm?"
"Do you have a girlfriend yet?"
An insulting move, but still, it isn't enough to hurt me.
"Nope, none"
"Do you have anyone in mind?"
I answer the same.
"Nope, none"
Hearing my reply, Komachi makes a subtle sound, and I stare at her, she who stared back at me, making a shit eating grin.
"Well Onii-chan"
(Oh no, she's up to something)
"If you have no one in mind, why not go for Yukino-san?"
(What?)
That name.
A name that instantly returned to me, a name that I cannot forget.
Yukinoshita Yukino.
"Why bring her up?"
"If not her, then there's also Yui-san, you know?"
"Oh! That's a great idea!"
A different voice reentered the discussion.
"Why? Mom"
"Well it's because either of them is a good choice"
A different voice reentered the discussion, again.
"Right? Dear"
My mother answers to my father's statement.
"I'd be happy if one of them became my daughter-in-law!"
She screams in excitement.
Still in bewilderment, I compose myself.
"Wait, why do you know them?"
Komachi answers my curiosity.
"Well, it's because they often visit us when you were gone"
"What? What do you mean by that?"
I truly have many things to catch up on, and Komachi again, answers:
"You know, like joining us for dinner or casual visits, every now and then"
(Every now and then?)
I wanted to learn more.
"How frequent?"
Komachi, placing her finger on her chin, makes time to think.
"How frequent? Hmm...almost monthly, I think?"
(Almost monthly!?)
She answers again.
"To be exact, every 2 to 3 months, I guess?"
(Crap, they entered my territory without my notice!)
As I was about to ease the pain in my temple, Komachi pressed on.
"So what about it? Are you gonna date Yukino-san? Maybe Yui-san? Ooohh what about both?"
Immediately, I stopped her imaginations from running wild.
"No, No, and No"
"Yeah, you're right, I don't think their parents would accept polygamy"
(What? What are you talking about?)
Komachi tried preaching.
"Oh c'mon, Onii-chan, if you don't get a girlfriend soon, you'll lose your chance and you'll forever be a lonely geezer"
While the prospect of that sounds sad, I'll just divert it into an opportunity.
"If that's the case, I'm fine with that, since you're gonna be like me, and you're gonna take care of me even until we both reach our 80's"
Komachi, however, refuses such an offer.
"Uh, no, Onii-chan, I'm gonna get married, have kids and grandkids"
I object.
"Not if I have anything to do about it"
"No, you won't be able to do anything about it, even if you object"
(She shot down my threat?)
"And if you really do become hopeless, my kids and grandkids will take care of you, don't you want any nephews and nieces?"
(Dammit, an enticing offer)
"You got me on that one huh?"
She puffs her chest in triumph.
(She's got a point though, I don't fare well with children, but if its Komachi's kids then...maybe, especially if they are as cute as her)
(Maybe being called "Uncle" isn't so bad after all)
(It's like having a mini-Komachi right?)
As I continued visualizing me with Komachi's pseudo children, a burst of surprise entered the room as someone remarks in worry.
"Oh no!"
A natural glance towards the direction, I see, my mother looking at her wrist watch.
"Dear! We're late for work!"
Her husband, uneasy, answers back.
"You're right! We'll be an hour late!"
Hurriedly, he looks, hurriedly he grabs, for a bag, his bag.
Moments later, he looks to me and Komachi and in haste he utters:
"Sorry, you two, we gotta go"
In response to that statement, Mom adds a comment.
"We'll be returning late so you two can have dinner without us"
"Okay!"
Komachi answers, as if natural.
"Bye Komachi! Bye Hachiman!"
Mom said, with some fondness.
And Dad waves his hands to express the same.
Footsteps later.
A door opens, and then it closes.
They left.