When I get home, I find my little sister in the living room chatting away on the phone.

Her name---Kirino Kousaka; age---fourteen. A junior high kid currently attending a school not far from home. Hair dyed light brown, fashionable earrings dangling, glossy varnish covered her manicured nails---she's the kind of girl that'd get looks from guys even without makeup and that jazz but had scrupulously and tastefully some applied anyway. She gave off an air of maturity well beyond her actual age. Her height leaned just a little towards the taller side, and excuse me if I said that she was a little bigger in certain areas too. If you gave her some singing and vocal training and threw in some luck in there with it, you'd probably have one hell of a pop-idol on your hands.

Now, you have to understand I'm not talking about her like this because she's family or something. My sister just has---what do you call it---chic. I have absolutely no intention of bragging about her or anything. There may be some guys out there who envy my position. It's not like I don't completely understand where they're coming from but you've gotta gimme a break here---maybe I can win some sympathy points from guys that actually have a little sister, but my point is, having one isn't something so great. Or at least, not in my case.

Play along with me for a second and picture for me a typical class with its different cliques and all. Within those cliques, there's probably one that's the envy of their peers. You know, the one with the super athlete, the academic genius, or maybe even the hot girl who all the guys have a crush on all grouped together. Now picture a girl that trumps everyone of those guys combined. A girl that you'd hesitate to even talk to, someone who lives in completely different world who you'll never have any connection with whatsoever---the epitome of the phrase ``way out of your league.''

No matter how charming or good-looking she may be, any normal guy would feel intimidated, or at least uncomfortable. That's the way I feel. Imagine that girl as a family member living with you under the same roof now. Of course, the distance between you two is as is. How about it? Is it still looking so great?

``I'm home,'' I say.

I greet her out of courtesy but she doesn't respond or so much as even glance my way. Kirino, still wearing her school uniform, crosses her legs under her mini-skirt and slumps deeper into the sofa. Her conversation is interspersed with cackles of glee. Whatever they're talking about must be hilarious. Admittedly, her smile is kinda cute, but she'd never direct it towards me.

``What, seriously? No way! Hahahahaha! That's sooo dumb!'' she chirps at the other end of the phone.

Yes, I know I'm a moron for even trying to talk to her. I grumble to myself as I open the refrigerator and get out the carton of barely tea. After pouring a glass, I down it in one gulp. With my thirst quenched, I start to leave.

``Yeah, okay. I got it. I'll change and meet you there, 'kay?''

It's already evening but it looks like she's going out to play or something. Well, whatever the case, it doesn't matter to me, so I head upstairs still feeling irked.