The quiet clatter of chopsticks and soft rustle of napkins filled the warm evening air inside the house's dining room. Ai sat snugly on Shin's lap, her arms lazily looped around his neck as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Her damp hair had dried into soft waves that spilled over her shoulders, still smelling faintly of vanilla shampoo.
She brought a piece of karaage to his mouth with a teasing grin. "Say 'ahhh,'" she cooed.
Shin grinned back, opening wide. "Ahhh—"
Ai popped the crispy bite into his mouth, giggling as he chomped like a starving animal. "You're so greedy."
He nodded through the mouthful. "Greedy for your cooking. You always make it taste like heaven."
She giggled again, cheeks warm. "That's not what you said last week when you burned the curry."
"You burned the curry," he teased.
"You distracted me!"
"With my existence?"
"With your hands down my shorts, you pervert!"
He laughed, holding her tighter on his lap. "Guilty as charged."
Ai smiled, bringing another bite to his mouth, slower this time. "You really do eat like a little kid sometimes."
"Speaking of little kids…" Shin chewed, then leaned his cheek into her shoulder. "You really don't like Asahi, huh?"
Ai froze mid-lift of the chopsticks, eyes blinking. "Eh?"
"You always get so prickly when I mention him," Shin said, rubbing his thumb lightly across her lower back. "You called him a 'brat' earlier."
Ai sighed, resting her forehead against his. "It's not that I don't like him, dummy. I actually… love him."
Shin raised an eyebrow. "You do?"
"Of course." Ai leaned back and looked into his eyes. "He's my little brother too, remember? He's family."
Shin smiled gently. "So why the cold attitude?"
She pouted. "Because my love for him is different than the love I have for you."
Her fingers twirled into his shirt collar. "When he's around, you act like I don't even exist sometimes. You get all big-brother mode… carry him around, let him cling to you, kiss his forehead like I'm not even in the room."
Shin chuckled softly. "So you are jealous."
"I am very jealous," she grumbled, pressing her cheek against his chest now. "And don't laugh! You always think it's cute when I get like this."
He leaned in to whisper at her ear, his voice warm. "That's because it is cute."
Ai playfully slapped his chest, but her smile betrayed her affection. "I just want you all to myself sometimes…"
"You'll have me tonight. All night," Shin murmured, kissing her temple.
"Good," Ai whispered. "I don't want to share my kisses."
Shin grinned, his voice low. "But you're already sharing me, aren't you? With Haa-Chan… with Yuki…"
Ai sat up slightly, scowling. "Onii-Chan…"
He laughed and kissed her nose. "Sorry, sorry. You're the one I want right now."
"Better be." She fed him the last bite from the plate, then leaned forward, brushing her lips softly over his. "Now shut up and kiss me properly."
Their lips met—slow, warm, and tender. It started as a gentle peck, a soft brushing of mouths that sent a tingle down Ai's spine. But it didn't stay innocent for long. Her arms looped tighter around Shin's neck as he drew her closer, his hands spreading at her waist, thumbs rubbing slow circles through the fabric of her shirt. Their mouths moved in sync, breath soft and mingled, a kiss that said everything without words. Hunger, comfort, home.
One minute passed. Then two. Then three…
The clock ticked unnoticed.
By the fifth minute, they were breathless and dazed, clinging like two souls that had fused somewhere in the middle of their hearts. Ai pulled back only slightly, her forehead resting against Shin's, her lips parted and warm.
"I could stay like this forever," she whispered.
"You might have to," he murmured, voice husky. "You've practically melted into me. We might need surgery to separate."
She giggled and flicked his forehead. "Then I'm charging you rent. I'm taking your bed, your snacks, and your hoodies."
"So basically… nothing changes," he said, smirking.
Ai rolled her eyes and stood slowly from his lap, legs wobbling a little. "C'mon. Let's get dinner started before Mum yells about us slacking again."
Shin stretched, bones cracking as he followed her into the kitchen. "They'll be here in an hour with Asahi, huh…"
Ai groaned. "Ugh, time to brace for the clingy chaos demon."
"He's not that bad."
"He sits on your lap when I'm already there. Like I'm not even visible. That's how wars start, Onii-Chan."
Shin laughed as he turned on the stove, grabbing vegetables from the fridge. "Maybe he thinks I'm some sort of throne."
"You're not helping," she muttered, tying her hair back into a ponytail as she set up the cutting board. "He better behave today. I'm not in the mood to throw hands in front of the steamed egg custard."
"You're so violent when you're protective," Shin teased.
She smirked at him. "You like it."
"Guilty," he said, leaning in to nip at her ear. "It's sexy."
Ai squeaked and batted him away with a ladle. "Not in front of the daikon!"
Shin snickered and moved behind her, loosely wrapping his arms around her waist as she peeled vegetables. "You smell like yuzu today."
"You always say that," she replied, smiling despite herself.
"That's because you always smell like it. It's unfair. It's like you're trying to seduce me with citrus."
"You're distracting me again."
"Can't help it. Your butt keeps bumping me. I think it's calling out for attention."
She jumped with a soft yelp as his hand boldly cupped her rear.
"Onii-Chan!"
He grinned against her shoulder. "Just keeping it company. It looked lonely."
"Pervert," she muttered, pink in the cheeks.
"I'm your pervert," he whispered shamelessly.
"You're lucky I like you…"
"Correction: You love me."
Ai flicked water at him from the sink. "Don't get cocky."
"Too late. I've got a whole pot of confidence boiling."
They worked side by side in the warm kitchen, the air filled with the scent of dashi and miso. The rice cooker puffed steam from the counter, and a soft jazz playlist played on the nearby speaker. Ai stirred the miso base gently, her movements careful and practiced, while Shin chopped vegetables with surprising precision—despite the fact that his eyes kept drifting toward her curves every time she leaned forward.
"You better not be staring," she murmured without turning around.
"Too late. The view is hypnotic."
She let out a sigh that couldn't hide her amusement. "You're supposed to be cutting carrots, not undressing me with your eyes."
"I can multitask," he said smoothly.
"I'm sure."
He walked up behind her again while she was stirring and reached around her, arms brushing hers, his hand 'accidentally' grazing her chest as he helped steady the ladle.
She stiffened. "O-Onii-Chan…"
"Shhh. I'm guiding your hand," he whispered, nuzzling into her neck. "Like a true cooking partner."
"You're so full of it," she muttered, cheeks glowing.
"And yet you're letting me."
"Only because if you mess up the soup, Mum will kill us."
Shin chuckled. "So you're saying I can grope you after we serve it?"
"Finish dinner first," she said, voice low, "then we'll negotiate your punishment."
He groaned dramatically. "You're such a tease."
"You love it."
He smirked. "I really do."
Ai hummed softly as she stirred, the scent of cooking broth swirling around them. "Hey… do you ever wonder what our life would be like if we hadn't… y'know… gotten like this?"
Shin slowed his cutting. "You mean, if we hadn't gotten closer?"
Ai nodded. "Like, if I just stayed your annoying little sister who hoarded all the strawberry pocky and blamed you for broken stuff."
Shin tilted his head. "You still do that."
She grinned. "True."
"But honestly?" He put the knife down, drying his hands before walking back to her side. "If we never crossed that line… I'd probably still be lonely. Cold. Definitely not making miso soup with a girl who looks this good in an apron."
Ai rolled her eyes. "Flatterer."
He leaned in. "Also, I'd probably be dead from eating convenience store bentos three meals a day."
She smirked. "So I did save your life."
"You did. And now I'm doomed to die a different death—by your thighs."
Ai laughed, nudging him with her hip. "You're ridiculous."
"I'm smitten," he corrected. "And dangerously horny with a knife in my hand, so don't tempt me too much."
"I'm already doing half the work around here. You can behave for another ten minutes."
He suddenly ducked in and kissed her cheek. "Ten minutes is a long time when you look this edible."
She was about to reply, but his hand crept forward again, cupping her breast gently through her top.
Her breath caught. "O-Onii-Chan…"
"Just saying hello to my favorite part," he murmured into her ear.
Ai's hands trembled slightly on the spoon. "You're seriously incorrigible."
"But you like it," he whispered.
She turned in his arms, looking up at him, the glow from the kitchen light soft on her flushed cheeks. "Yes," she said quietly. "You are. And I do."
The moment lingered—warm, slow, charged with something that simmered deeper than miso on the stove. Shin leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her lips, barely more than a whisper of touch, but it stole her breath anyway.
Then the timer dinged.
Ai blinked and exhaled. "Soup's done."
They moved in unison, plating dishes, setting out chopsticks, arranging the table with quiet coordination that came from shared rhythms and rituals. The chicken was perfectly tender, the rice fluffy, the miso fragrant with seaweed and tofu. It wasn't just a meal—it was a proper family dinner. Something that mattered. Something they built together.
As they worked, Shin stayed close—his hand brushing hers every time she reached for a plate, his lips near her ear as he whispered things both sweet and dirty.
"If you bend over again like that, I swear I'll burn the rice on purpose."
"You're the worst."
"And yet, I'm your favorite person."
Ai tried to stay focused, but her heart beat just a little faster every time he touched her. Even with the looming interruption of family, the arrival of Asahi and their parents, the background hum of house noises—nothing felt heavy. Not like before.
Because no matter who showed up… no matter how long Asahi tried to sit in Shin's lap or smother him in childish possessiveness…
Ai knew one thing for certain.
After dinner, after goodbyes…
It would be just the two of them again.
And tonight, she wasn't letting him go for even a second.
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END OF CHAOTER : 136 : JUST THE TWO OF US... FOR NOW.
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