"You sure you don't want a hand?"
"I'm fine~ Just sit back and relax. It's 'my' turn to show off, fufu."
Our time on the couch would eventually end as our stomachs practically grumbled in sync with one another, which leads us to the kitchen. I was planning on cooking lunch for the both of us, but Reina herself took it up on herself to cook instead... Although from the looks of the ingredients she's pulling out, I'm getting a feeling that there won't be much 'cooking' involved and more so baking as I watch her pull out flour, sugar, eggs as well as lemons and other various ingredients that I rarely use; the sugar in particular is still the same bag when I first moved into this apartment. I don't know much about baking so I find myself staring at her working while sitting at the table.
After about 15 minutes, she put a tray in the oven with what looked to be cookie shaped dough on it. However I do know that baking can drastically change the finish product so I'm not really sure what she's making.
"Haah~ Now we wait for about 10 minutes."
"I never knew you could bake? Did grandma teach you?"
"Fufufu. I actually learnt this recipe not too long ago by Kanon's mom."
"Oh?"
"Mhmm! I actually help with working at their cat café, so I picked up a few things while working there. Although this recipe isn't all too difficult."
She says that, yet I recall her double- no, triple checking her measurements to make sure everything is perfect. It's one of the biggest reasons why I never bothered to learn anything involving baking as I've heard it's quite volatile if your measurements are even slightly off.
"So~ What is it that you're making?"
"You couldn't tell?"
"Uhm. Cookies?"
"Pfft- fufufu. You'll have to wait and see~"
But just like Reina said, it didn't take long as less than 10 minutes later, Reina took the tray out of the oven before dusting some icing sugar over the food. However I'm still lost as to what exactly I'm looking at. They're like cookies, but they've risen quite enough to resemble small muffins. That said, my eyes were mainly focused on the cracks in the dough from them rising as the hard crust revealed a soft, lemony colour, and with her dusting the sugar over the crust, it gave way to quite a pleasant colour of white and gold, almost luxurious in a way. Oh god... I can feel my saliva wanting to gush out already. I wasn't expecting something this delicious, and by Reina? I can already feel my heart wanting to jump out of my chest.
"We just have to let them rest for a few minutes."
"Wait, huh?"
"Pfft! Did you want to eat them now, sis? Fufufu."
"I mean... Do we 'have' to wait? They look perfect already."
"P-perfect? Th-they're far from perfect... I mean look at this one. It's sides burst out and looks weird."
"What, this one?"
"Ah-!"
I quickly pick up the one that Reina pointed out before quickly biting into it. However-
"HAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!"
"I said to wait for them to rest!~"
I could barely taste anything as I try my best to juggle the piece of the food in my mouth with my tongue, trying desperately to cool it off. After a few moments, I finally settle down as it cooled down enough as I'm left with quite a pleasant taste.
"Mmm! It's good!"
"R-really?"
"Yup!"
I pick back up the cookie-muffin hybrid that I took a bite of once more before taking another bite. This time, it has cooled down a bit that I could appreciate the crunch of the hard crust only to be met with the burst of citrus from the lemony insides, but despite the crust being hard, it just crumbles and melts in my mouth as I found myself devouring the rest of it in mere seconds.
"Hah~ You really couldn't wait?"
"Sorry, haha."
"Well, I'm glad you liked it, sis..."
Reina smiles brightly as she gently wipes the corner of my mouth with her finger before sucking on her finger that now had a piece of crumb and icing sugar on it.
"Mm, It's still a bit hot. Let's let them cool for a bit longer, okay?"
"O-okay."
I'm not sure why, but seeing Reina's slightly flushed face when she did that... Even now as she starts placing the cookie muffins on a wire rack, my heart refuses to settle as I recall earlier back when Reina tranced her fingers over my body. That same finger- No! Cut it out Luna!
I shake off those thoughts before helping out Reina assemble the rest of the food on the wire rack, but I couldn't help but realize just how many she made.
"Did you really need to make this many?"
"Well, I didn't really plan on making this many, but I wanted to make sure there was enough for your friends as well."
"Huh?"
"Hehe-"
Just as the last one was placed by Reina, she turns around before smiling happily at me.
"I still want to spend just a bit more alone time with you sis, but maybe tomorrow... We could invite them over?"
"Are you sure?"
"Mhmm... That's of course if it's okay with you?"
"Nn. Alright. If that's what you want, then I'll let Midori know."
As if the both of us knew, we both moved at the same time, wrapping our arms around each other despite the little icing sugar that's on our fingers.
"Fufu. Sorry. I was meant to dust them off while they were on the drying rack."
"It's fine. What's a little sugar going to do?"
We both end up tightening our hold around one another as Reina ends up resting her head against me, nestling her head into my shoulder.
"Hahh~ I almost want to just skip eating and just stay like this."
"Nn... But you seriously do need to try them. They're delicious."
"Hmmm?~"
"I'm serious! The best cookie- or muffins I've ever had!"
"Fufufufu! You still don't know what they are?"
"Are they not a cookie or a muffin?"
"W-well... I guess I did add a bit too much flour. I guess they do look a little like a flat muffin. I'll be sure to do them properly next time."
"Well I think they're perfect as they are."
"..."
I understand Reina's feelings. Growing up, she always strived to do everything perfectly. It's one of the many things that tells us apart. I knew back when I saw her triple checking her measurements that I knew she wanted it perfect, so that's why I must tell her that she doesn't need to worry about her little 'mistake' if that's what she wants to call it. If anything, I find her mistake to be cute and makes these cookie-muffins more unique.
"...Sis."
"Hmm?"
"...I love you."
"Nn. I love you too."
We pull away slightly from one another, enough for our eyes to meet once more before we both found ourselves moving in, pressing our lips together for just a brief moment, as if to reaffirm our words.
"Pfft, fufu. I think I added a bit too much lemon as well."
"Don't worry. I like them just the way they are."
We both smile at one another as I feel an immense sense of satisfaction. It was a bit awkward at times, but I feel like now we're back to being sisters once again.
"Sis..."
At least that's what I thought, but Reina's face still looks quite flushed. It's honestly making my heart flutter once more, just like that time when we touched each other's bodies...
"Y-yeah?"
"Could we maybe... ki- ACHOO!"
"Bless you?"
"Ehe... Sorry."
Now that I think about it, maybe Reina's actually feeling a little bit ill? Could her sneeze be 'cause of the cold from last night or was it simply just a normal sneeze...
"...I'll find you some warmer clothes."
"Ah- uhm. Thank you."
Reina might be like Midori in that sense, being more sensitive to the cold, maybe that's why she was wearing so many layers last night. Actually, if my memory serves me right, Reina used to wear most of the scarf we shared as kids. I guess some things just never change.
"Thanks."
I end up giving Reina a jumper of mine which seemed to have relaxed her somewhat as we relax on the couch once more.
"I don't want you catching a cold."
"It's finee~ It was just a sneeze. I think some of the icing sugar went up my nose hehe."
"Hmm."
"Eh?"
Wanting to make sure, I raise my hand up against her forehead, leading Reina looking a bit flustered from my sudden move. However, her forehead feels quite normal. Wait, but I was handling those cookies from earlier so maybe that's why?
Thinking so, I move my hand away before gently pressing my forehead against her own which seemed to have only caused Reina's face to grow red in response. Despite that however, her head feels around the same temperature as mine.
"You're good."
"Haah~"
I remove my face away as Reina exhales.
"I told you I'm okay."
"I just wanted to make sure."
"Fufu. You worry too much."
She brings my hand onto hers as we both end up holding each other's hand.
"You know how cold it gets in the north? I doubt a small bit of snow would affect me."
"You say that, yet you were wearing so many layers last night."
"Well one has to be prepared~ The snow could've easily picked up and gotten a lot worse."
Well actually, Reina didn't see it as she collapsed before it actually did pick up. Even now I feel like my fingers are still a bit frozen and stiff, but I guess she's right. If anything I should be the one who should be worrying about a cold.
"Maybe we should take a bath, just in case."
"Ah!"
Reina's face lights up upon hearing my suggestion, almost as if she's surprised from hearing those words.
"Hehe. Could it be that you were also avoiding taking baths?"
"Ah, well... Yeah... Every time I thought about it, I could never follow through with it. All I could think about was the time we spent together instead... I couldn't bear it."
"Nn. Same here. But things are different now, right?"
I gently tighten my fingers around Reina's hand as I say that, leading Reina to immediately lighten up once more.
"Mhmm!"
"So do you wanna go in?"
"Mm!"
And so, after running the bath, even though we had already showered earlier, we both got unchanged before submerging ourselves into the steamy, warm bath.
"Ahhh~ Wow!"
"Mmmmm~"
We sat on opposite ends with our legs crossed over one another. It's obvious to me now that this bath wasn't meant for two people as it is a bit cramped. That said, the joy that's filling my chest right now with being like this with Reina outweighed the discomfort.
"Fufu. This feels very different to how I remember."
"Hmm? How so?"
"Mmmm... HA!"
Suddenly, Reina splashes water in my direction, splashing water over the bathtub in the process as I instinctively closed my eyes to defend against the sudden attack.
"Fufufu. There, now this feels a bit better."
"Hehe. I guess we did always start off our baths together with a fight, huh."
"M-hmm!"
I wound up retaliating with a water strike of my own, only more powerful than the one Reina gave me as she immediately attacked back with a water strike of her own. Very quickly, I started to not care about the water that was splashing over the tub, getting all over the bathroom floor and just continued to engage in the one-on-one fight against my sister.
"Fufu! I wonder who won last time!"
"Well, either way I'll be the one to win- today!"
"EEP!"
I cup both my hands before unleashing a massive strike towards Reina, forcing her to go on the defence by raising her hands up to her face. Not letting this opportunity slip away, I quickly release barrages of water strikes, almost like a gatling gun, making sure that Reina couldn't let her hands down.
"Mmmm! Okay okay! I lose I lose!"
"Heheh."
With our battle now come to a close, we both relax with batted breaths in the bathtub. Only this time, the water level has lessened as now it looks like the water is now just under our chests.
"Uhm... Maybe that wasn't a good idea?"
"It's fine, I'll clean it up later."
"W-well I lost! So shouldn't I be the one to clean up?"
"Hmmm. But you cooked those delicious cookies so I think it's only fair."
"Well if you're bringing up that then I could say the same about our breakfast."
"Touche."
"Fufu. Then that settles it. I'll clean it up, okay?"
"Sure, hehe."
We smile at eachother as I end up filling up the bathtub with more water, quickly making the water around us even more hot as the room fills up with even more steam.
"But do you think maybe we could lay differently?"
"Hmm? How so?"
"Well it's bit awkward like this, right? I was thinking maybe moving to where you are, sis?"
"Wouldn't that make it even more cramped?"
Even with just myself here, if Reina sits besides me, our shoulders and hips should may as well just merge into one with how tight that would be.
"Not if we're like- this!"
But as if to answer the question inside my head, Reina spins around, facing the same direction as me before resting her back and head against my chest, my legs now on either side of her with her legs taking up the middle space.
"See?"
"Nn..."
It's true that this is a lot more comfortable, but feeling Reina up close like this only reminds me of earlier, again when we touched each other's bodies. I can already feel my face heat up, but that could also just be from the bath. Back when we were kids, I don't think we ever laid like this together in the bath...
"Mmmm... But now I can't really see your face sis."
"I-I guess. Yeah..."
Oh god, is she also thinking the same thing? Her ears look a bit red as well, but that could also just be from the bath. Am I the only one just overthinking everything?
Just then, my eyes lock onto the wound on Reina's arm as I find myself gently wrapping my arms around her, as if the wound itself helped calm down whatever that was steadily building up inside of me.
"S-sis?!"
"But when we're laying down like this, we can do this instead."
I tighten my hold around her, making sure not to squeze too hard around her shoulders as to not hurt her.
"Mmmm..."
It's only then does Reina relax in my arms, resting all of her weight on me; mainly my chest.
"Hey sis."
"Hmm?"
"You really do feel a lot different."
"Well, we're not kids anymore, hehe. And I could say the same about you."
Even now, in my arms, Reina feels so much softer than I remember. Just having her in my arms like this fills me enough comfort to even put me to sleep.
"Mm..."
"...Hey, Don't fall asleep in the bath."
I guess I'm not the only one who's feeling like this, hehe.
"Fufu. Mom used to get mad at us for doing that, right?"
"Nn."
"It's okay, I won't fall asleep. Not when we're like this..."
She says as she twists herself over onto her side, now resting the side of her face on my chest, just outside of the water. It did help free up some room for my legs, but with Reina's face now in view, I can't help but feel a bit embarassed with her laying on me like this... And I'm not the only one it seems.
"So soft..."
"S-says you."
"Fufu. I guess I'll try and catch up to you, sis."
"Pfft. You can try, but it took me years to get like this."
"Then that just means I'll have a good teacher. I helped you with writing, right? It's only fair."
"That's when we were kids."
"Still counts~"
"Hah~ Alright. I'll think about it."
"Fufufu."
I really can't say no to her. I won't lie that a small part of me did want to teach her at least some basics in self defence.
"-mmh?"
But in my train of thought, Reina sneakily steals my lips for just a moment before breaking her lips away, her face now right in front of mine.
"Hmmm. But are you sure you can train me if you're defenseless like that?"
"Pfft. Are you saying that was an attack?"
"Fu-mmmh!"
Getting payback like this sure brings back memories...
After some time, we finally get out of the bath before heading back into the living room.
"Hahh~ So nice~"
"Unlike when we were kids, your hair has gotten so long."
"That just means I get to enjoy this feeling even longer~"
I grabbed the hair dryer from the bathroom as we decided that I'd dry Reina's hair first, carefully brushing any knots that was left behind. Despite us having the same hair, it somehow feels different drying Reina's hair than my own. Is her hair also maybe softer than mine? Before I knew it, I became absorbed in Reina's hair as I continued to blow-dry her hair.
"Alright. My turn."
"Kay~"
This is so much like back then. It really does feel like I've gone back in time as I hand over the hairdryer to Reina as she soon began drying my hair.
After drying our hair and putting our hairpins back in, I grabbed some spare antibiotics that Mei gave me back when I was sick, hoping that it would help with Reina's cut. However, right as I gave a glass of water to Reina, a loud banging sound came from the door, followed by the doorbell. Isn't that the wrong way around?
"Si-"
"Luna!~ Open up! It's me!"
With Reina frightened by the loud banging, I was prepared to take on whoever was there, but the sound of the voice dispelled all of my worries.
"Don't worry Reina. She's a friend."
"A-another one?"
"Not necessarily."
It's then that I opened the door just as another knock was beginning to echo into the room, and there stood-
"Ahh~!"
"Hey, Mei-!"
Out of nowhere, Mei wraps her arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace for a few moments before letting go. Her face looking to be the epitome of ecstacy as I see her eyes quickly scanning the room behind me until her eyes lock onto something. I can take a guess as to what she's looking at.
"It's true!"
"Calm down. Come inside."
I try my best to calm the situation before closing the door."
"Reina, this here is Mei. Mei, as you can probably guess, this is Reina, my sister."
"It's so nice to meet you- ah?"
But right as Mei was about to go in for a hug with Reina, her eyes lock onto Reina's right shoulder, stopping her in her tracks, much to Reina's relief.
"Is that-"
"Reina got into an accident. Do you mind having a look at it while you're here?"
"I- uhh. Sure!"
It's actually a stroke of good luck that Mei turned up when she did. Who knows whether the antibiotics that I have would even be any good.
"Sis? Uhm is this another friend from school?"
Mei ends up chuckling as she come up closer to the right side of Reina.
"No. She's brother's wife."
"E-eh?"
"HEY! I'm not his wife yet!"
"Oh? Yet?"
"Ah-"
"Hehe. Nn, Mei and brother are good friends. She helped me when I was sick once. You can trust her."
"R-right..."
"Don't take her seriously, Reina. Your brother and I are just friends at the moment."
Reina and I lock eyes with one another after Mei said that, and I could tell immediately that Reina knew that Mei was lying, leading to the both of us smiling as Mei began to look at Reina's wound.
"...At the moment?"
"Oh not you too!"