Ai placed the breakfast gently in front of Shin with a proud little hum. The rice was perfectly steamed, the grilled salmon golden and glistening with a hint of glaze, the tamagoyaki sliced neatly and stacked with precision, and the miso soup warm and fragrant. Her heart fluttered as she watched his eyes light up at the sight of it.
Shin, still a little damp from his shower, was toweling off the ends of his hair when she smiled and patted his thigh. "Sit, Onii-chan."
He obeyed, brushing the towel once more through his hair before setting it aside. As soon as he did, Ai slid onto his lap like it was her rightful seat, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face into the crook of it for a moment, inhaling his freshly-showered scent.
"You smell nice..." she murmured.
"You smell like mischief and grilled fish," he teased, nuzzling her cheek.
She giggled, then leaned back slightly and began to feed him. She picked up a bite of salmon with her chopsticks and brought it to his lips. "Say ah~"
He did as told, chewing with a soft smile as she doted on him. This was their routine. Even if they'd crossed every line imaginable now, their mornings still had this intimate calmness—Ai sitting in his lap, feeding him bite after bite with the sweetest expression.
"Aren't you going to school today?" he asked between bites.
Ai pouted immediately, huffing softly. "I can't even walk, Onii-chan. My legs are jelly... and I'm sore everywhere."
He chuckled, brushing her bangs behind her ear. "That just means I did a good job."
"No! It means you were a mean bull!" she protested with a flustered squeak.
He laughed louder this time, clearly enjoying her reactions. Then, casually, he slipped a single finger under the collar of her oversized shirt, tugging it down just enough to peek inside.
"Let's see the damage," he muttered.
"O-Onii-chan!" Ai tried to swat his hand, but he tilted her slightly and looked anyway.
"Hah! Red all over," he said smugly. "You look like I marked you up with a paintbrush."
She puffed her cheeks out and poked a bit of tamagoyaki against his lips aggressively. "That's your fault! You just had to bite me everywhere instead of kissing!"
"But you like it," he said, chewing happily.
"...Shut up."
"No, really," he grinned. "You moaned the loudest when I did."
She flushed a deep crimson, looking away, mumbling under her breath. "Maybe a little..."
He kissed her cheek. "You're the cutest little pervert."
She huffed again, this time placing another bite of fish to his lips to silence him. He accepted it, smirking the entire time as she tried to hide her flustered expression behind the role of a caretaker.
But her weight settled gently in his lap, her arms still around his neck, her head slowly resting against his chest.
Shin chuckled as Ai continued to feed him small, careful bites of grilled salmon and tamagoyaki, her pout never quite leaving her lips. She sat curled on his lap like she belonged there, arms gently wrapped around his shoulders, her cheek resting against his.
"Still mad about the bite marks?" he murmured, voice low and teasing as he lifted a piece of tamagoyaki with his chopsticks and offered it to her.
She nibbled it delicately, then looked away with a soft grumble. "You didn't have to mark me like I'm your prey…"
"But you are," he whispered near her ear, his warm breath making her squirm. "You said so last night, didn't you?"
Ai stiffened, her blush rushing up her neck. "T-That's different! I was... you know—!"
"Desperate? Loud? Begging?" he teased.
She smacked his chest lightly with the back of her hand. "Meanie."
Shin laughed, clearly enjoying her flustered state. Then, slipping his hand behind her back, he whispered, "You're lucky I'm not dragging you back to bed."
She squeaked, hiding her face against his neck. "I can't! I'm too sore!"
"Oh? That bull from last night really did a number on you, huh?" he smirked.
Ai groaned. "Don't call it a bull. That's not romantic."
"But it was effective," he said smugly.
"You're impossible…" she mumbled, but her voice was fond, and her fingers tangled in his shirt as she snuggled even closer.
He held her tighter, nuzzling her hair. "You love it."
"...Maybe."
"Definitely."
She smiled softly against him, her pout finally melting into something warm and content.
Ai set the empty bowl down on the table, satisfied. "All done," she said softly, brushing a few stray rice grains from the corner of Shin's lips with her thumb.
He caught her wrist gently, eyes glinting with affection. "You spoil me every morning, you know that?"
She smiled, her cheeks still pink from earlier teasing. "You're my Onii-chan. It's my job."
Shin leaned in close, their noses touching. "Then as your Onii-chan... I think it's my job to do this."
He tilted his head and pressed his lips to hers, slow and warm, the kind of kiss that lingered and made the world quiet for just a little while.
Ai melted into it, her fingers tightening slightly around his shoulders. Her sore body ached in places she didn't want to admit, but her heart felt light, full.
When they finally pulled apart, her eyes stayed half-lidded, her lips glossy and parted. "I don't think I'll ever get tired of that."
Shin smirked. "I hope not. I'm not planning to stop."
She laughed softly, resting her forehead against his. "Good. Because I don't want you to."
Shin lingered, his lips brushing gently over Ai's once more. What began as a quick goodbye peck quickly deepened. His hand cupped her cheek, thumb stroking the soft skin beneath her eye, while Ai leaned in instinctively, sighing into the kiss.
Their mouths moved in slow, lazy rhythm—no rush, no urgency. Just warmth. Their tongues met briefly, a gentle brush, enough to make Ai whimper quietly, her arms winding tighter around his neck. Shin tilted his head, angling deeper, savoring the taste of her.
Ai's heart fluttered wildly. Her soreness faded into the background, overtaken by the comfort and passion of this kiss. She clung to him, savoring the closeness, the certainty that this moment—this love—was hers.
Finally, when they pulled apart just enough to breathe, Ai smiled, cheeks flushed, lips kiss-swollen.
"You're going to be late," she whispered, brushing a stray hair from his forehead.
Shin smirked, still holding her close. "Worth it."
With a bashful giggle, Ai reached for the small cloth-wrapped bento box sitting on the table. "Here." She placed it gently in his hands. "Don't forget to eat everything."
He took it with a soft smile, fingers brushing hers in the hand-off. "Made with love?"
"Always."
He leaned down and kissed her again—this time soft and short, like a promise. Then, slipping away with visible reluctance, Shin picked up his school bag from where it leaned near the wall and made his way to the door.
Ai watched him with fondness, chin resting on her hand, until he paused at the entrance. He looked back, one foot already in his shoes.
She met his gaze, rising slightly on her toes.
Wordlessly, he stepped back toward her, set his bag down, and gathered her in his arms once more.
This kiss was different—deeper again, full of everything he didn't say aloud. Ai gasped softly as his lips claimed hers, his hands threading into her hair, drawing her close. Her hands found his waist, clinging as he tilted her back just a little, giving the kiss a dramatic, movie-like dip.
He tasted like warmth, safety, desire, and love.
When they finally broke apart, Ai was breathless, her lips tingling.
Shin rested his forehead against hers. "I'll be thinking about this all day."
Ai giggled, shy and giddy. "Then you better come straight home."
He nodded, stealing one last kiss on her cheek. "Of course. I'd rather be here than anywhere else."
With a final smile, Shin turned, picked up his bag, and stepped out the front door.
Ai stood quietly in the hallway, her fingers brushing her lips, still feeling his warmth.
"I love you, Onii-chan," she whispered to the closed door.
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END OF CHAPTER : 108 : BREAKFAST!
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