The last traces of dinner clung to the air, the clink of dishes and hum of light conversation filling the dining room.
Rika pushed her empty plate aside with a satisfied sigh, stretching her arms above her head lazily.
"Mmm~ That was sooo good, Onii-san~" she chirped brightly.
"You really should open a café or something!"
Shin chuckled lightly, reaching over to ruffle her hair.
"I'll think about it," he said.
Ai smiled, heart warming at the scene.
She loved when everyone was happy like this.
But the happiness was short-lived.
Rika, a mischievous glint in her eye, suddenly clapped her hands together.
"I have an idea~!"
Everyone turned to look at her.
Ai tilted her head, a little wary.
Rika leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands, her smile sweet but devilish.
"Let's have a sleepover~!" she said brightly.
Ai blinked.
Yuki frowned.
Shin raised an eyebrow.
Rika, undeterred by the silence, continued.
"Come on! It's Saturday! No school tomorrow! It'll be fun! I'll stay over... and Yuki-kun can stay too~!"
She turned toward Yuki and gave him an exaggerated, playful wink.
Yuki choked on his drink, coughing violently.
Ai slammed her hands on the table.
"EH?! NO WAY!" she shouted.
Yuki immediately followed, slamming his hands down too.
"NO WAY IN HELL!" he barked, cheeks blazing red.
The two of them stared at each other, breathing hard.
Rika giggled, completely unfazed.
"Ara ara~ Why not~?" she teased, batting her lashes innocently.
Ai fumbled for words, her face turning pink.
"I-I mean—! I—I was planning to—!" she stammered.
She couldn't say it out loud.
She couldn't say she was planning to sneak off with Shin after dinner for a private, steamy moment — just the two of them.
Rika leaned closer, grinning wickedly.
"Ne, Ai~ What were you planning~?"
Ai's face went up in flames.
"NOTHING!" she squeaked.
Rika sat back, victorious.
Meanwhile, Yuki was fighting his own inner battle.
*Stay over...? Under the same roof as Shin...? Sharing air with him all night...?!*
He shook his head violently.
"Like hell I'd stay here!" he barked.
Rika tilted her head cutely.
"Aw~ But it'll be fun~ You can sleep in Onii-san's room~"
Yuki nearly fell out of his chair.
"WHY WOULD I DO THAT?!" he shouted, voice cracking embarrassingly.
Rika giggled behind her hand.
Shin, meanwhile, was frozen.
Yuki... sleeping in his room?
He swallowed hard, the image flashing in his mind.
Yuki's messy hair, his pouty face, his cute scowls...
Shin rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I mean... if Yuki wants... I don't mind..." he said, trying to sound casual.
Ai whipped her head toward him, betrayed.
"Onii-chan...! You're supposed to mind...!"
Shin winced.
Rika clapped her hands again.
"See~! Onii-san agrees! It's settled!"
Yuki slammed his hands down again.
"LIKE HELL IT'S SETTLED!"
Ai nodded fiercely.
"That's right! It's NOT settled!"
The two glared at Rika, who just smiled even brighter.
Ai's heart twisted.
If Rika and Yuki stayed over...
That meant no sneaking into Onii-chan's room late at night.
No cuddling under his blankets.
No secret kisses.
No soft moans muffled against his chest.
She felt tears prickling behind her eyes.
*No... I need him...*
Yuki's own chest felt like it was going to explode.
*Being that close to Shin... I'll lose it... I'll say something stupid... I'll look like an idiot...!*
He clenched his fists under the table.
*I can't stay... I can't...!*
But he also... wanted to.
Shin shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
He wanted Yuki to stay.
He wanted to watch him sleep, see his soft, vulnerable side.
Maybe even—
*No, no, bad thoughts. Focus!*
He cleared his throat.
"Rika... Are you sure your parents are okay with it?" he asked, trying to find a way out.
Rika nodded sweetly.
"Un~! I already texted them! They said it's fine!"
Shin sighed.
Of course she already planned everything.
He looked at Yuki.
The boy was glaring at his plate like it had personally offended him.
"Yuki... you don't have to if you really don't want to," Shin said gently.
Yuki flinched, looking up.
"I—! I never said I didn't want to!" he snapped defensively, voice high-pitched.
Rika giggled.
"Ara~ So you do want to~?"
Yuki turned beet red.
"I—! I mean—! Not with Shin—! I mean, not because of Shin—! I mean—!"
He buried his face in his hands, groaning.
Ai crossed her arms, puffing out her cheeks.
"This is the worst...!"
Shin sighed again.
He really wasn't sure how to handle this.
On one hand, he didn't want Ai to cry or sulk.
On the other hand...
The thought of Yuki in pajamas, maybe even crawling into bed with him...
He shook his head.
Focus!
Rika, meanwhile, was already plotting.
If she stayed, she'd get to sleep in Ai's room, just like always.
They could cuddle.
She could sneak a kiss onto Ai's forehead while she slept.
She could feel Ai's soft warmth pressed against her all night.
It's perfect~ Rika thought, humming happily.
And as for Yuki...
She threw him another wink.
Good luck, little boy~
Yuki scowled at her, understanding exactly what she was suggesting.
*Damn woman...! I'm not some lovesick idiot...!*
His heart thudded painfully.
*But if I sleep... near Shin... I might...*
He groaned again.
Shin rubbed his face tiredly.
"So... what do you guys want to do?" he asked, voice resigned.
Ai and Yuki shouted at the same time:
"NO SLEEPOVER!"
Rika clapped her hands together, sparkling.
"Yay~! Everyone agrees!"
Ai slammed her hands down again.
"That's NOT what we said!"
Yuki pointed an accusing finger at Rika.
"Stop twisting things, you devil woman!"
Rika just giggled sweetly.
"Come on~ It'll be fun~ We can watch movies~ Play games~ Eat snacks~"
Ai glared.
"I don't care about movies or games! I want to—!"
She stopped herself just in time.
Rika leaned forward, grinning.
"Want to... what, Ai~?"
Ai flushed scarlet.
"Nothing!"
Yuki folded his arms, pouting.
"I have... important things to do," he lied badly.
"Like what?" Shin asked curiously.
Yuki spluttered.
"Like... like... studying!"
Everyone stared at him.
Silence.
Even Rika, for once, looked shocked.
"...You?" she said, deadpan.
Yuki slammed the table again.
"SHUT UP!"
Rika giggled uncontrollably.
Ai buried her face in her hands.
Shin leaned back in his chair, sighing.
It was going to be a while.
And there was still no decision.
No conclusion.
Just chaos.
And maybe... maybe... just a little bit of excitement.
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END OF CHAPTER : 70 : ONE ROOF, TOO MANY HEARTS!
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