I noticed Aizi's face changed from smug with satisfied grin to her poker, and cold face. I reached for my phone slowly while she didn't seem to mind it... For now
Seya Aranami.
The name on the notification flashed across the screen.
I looked at Aizi but her poker and cold face remain on her face, maybe she's now calm down. I unlocked my phone, and checks the message.
"Are you asleep? You left me on seen… is that a no?"
I paused, staring at her previous message and realizing I'd forgotten to reply. Damn it, it was Aizi's fault.
I started to type, to make an excuse, to save the heroine of my story.
"I'm sorry there's just something I had to deal with. Yes, let's walk together tom, Aranami-san." Sending it with a heartbeat, my fingers trembling, my heartbeat increasing.
me actually walking with a pretty girl to school? Damn the author of my life must be rewarding me for being such a good boy.
I looked at the phone. The message was already marked as seen the moment I sent it. The three dots shows up, juggling. After minutes, there her reply is, as fast as flash.
"Great… you can walk me from here." The address wasn't too far from where I was—yet suspiciously nowhere near her house or same way to school from her house.
My thumb hovered over the screen, hesitation prickling at the back of my neck. Why there? Why not home?
I could feel Aizi's gaze even without looking at her. That sharp, unreadable quiet of hers. The smug mask had slipped earlier, but now… nothing. Just that cold, flat stare.
I locked the phone quickly, slipping it back under the pillow like it burned. "It's nothing" I muttered, more to myself than her.
Aizi shifted beside me, slow and deliberate, the mattress dipping. "...Nothing?" she repeated, voice calm, but it didn't feel calm at all.
My throat tightened. "Yeah. Just y'know class stuff."
"Class stuff." She echoed my words with a dry little laugh, though her face didn't match the sound.
The silence stretched thin, heavy. My phone buzzed again in the dark. I didn't dare move.
"...Nii-chan."
Her voice slipped through the stillness, soft but deliberate. My hand froze halfway toward the pillow.
"Mhm?" I mumbled, throat suddenly dry.
A pause. Then, quieter—almost too casual to be real:
"Can I sleep here tonight?"
The mattress seemed smaller already, the air pressing down around me. My pulse thudded in my ears as I glanced sideways. Her expression was unreadable again—blank, calm, but her eyes were locked on me like she was waiting for something.
My sister—who's been a pain in the ass since the day she gained consciousness, a spoiled brat through and through, and literally acting weird just minutes ago—suddenly asks to sleep together? I mean, yeah, as siblings. No funny business. But still—doesn't it feel off? I'm almost legal age, she's just a year behind me… and she thinks this is normal?
Before I could even open my mouth, she cut me off. Her tone had shifted—cold, flat, stripped of all that smugness from earlier.
"Never mind, brother. That was a stupid thing to ask."
She pushed herself up from the bed, movements stiff, like she was holding something back. She reaches for the doorknob, her gaze met mine before opening the door and stepping outside, as she closed the door.
BUZZ
Seya Aranami.
"are you awake?" the screen lits up from the message.
I shoved myself back into the bed, resting it, I feel like falling sleep already, no wonder, a lot of things happened today, meeting a cute girl, Aizi having a rampage. After some wrapping my thoughts I finally replied.
"yes I am, what's up?"
"thank you for today, Reui-kun^^ goodnight!!"
Suddenly, I can't stop my lips from widing, smiling like an idiot just from a text.
Shibal, her text is so cuteee.
I don't know how I'll respond to that, so I just locked my phone, putting it aside on the table next to my bed. Back resting on the bed, while I gaze at the ceiling, replaying all the things happened today.
My body finally felt heavy, sinking deeper into the mattress, every muscle unraveling after today's mess.
Meeting Seya. Aizi's madness. That whole fight… it all swirled around in my head until it was just a blur.
But through it all, that last text stuck with me.
"Thank you for today, Reui-kun^^ goodnight!!"
I couldn't stop the stupid grin tugging at my lips. Damn it, why does something that simple feel like a cloud nine?
My eyelids grew heavier, the ceiling fading from view. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I thought I heard the creak of a floorboard outside my room—but maybe that was just my imagination.
Before I could think any harder, the weight of the day pulled me under, and sleep finally claimed me.
Tomorrow could wait.
___________________________________
I woke up feeling strangely well-rested, my body light and fresh, like all the weight from yesterday had finally lifted.
As soon as I stood up from the bed, my phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with a notification.
Seya Aranami.
"Good morning, Reui-kun.. I'm heading there now^^"
I froze for a second, rereading it. Then my eyes darted to the clock. 7:45 AM.
Classes started at 9.
"…Eh? Isn't that way too early?" I muttered under my breath.
Still, my chest felt tight—half panic, half excitement. I'll walk with a cute girl...
But then reality hit me like a bucket of cold water.
Food. Shower. Clothes. Aizi.
"shit.." I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. If I showed up smelling like bed sheets and toothpaste, I'd never forgive myself.
I bolted out of bed, nearly tripping over my chair, and rushed to the bathroom and took a quick but effective shower. After I'm done showering, I put up my uniform and rushed towards the kitchen downstairs. Opened the fridge—eggs, bread, leftover rice. Aizi would scream bloody murder if she woke up to no breakfast.
The clock ticked. My phone buzzed again on the desk.
I ignored it, cracking eggs into the pan like my life depended on it. I scrambled the egg, making it good despite of rushing the breakfast.
"you're suspiciously energetic today, brother. What's the occasion, someone confessed to you in your dreams?" Aizi's voice cracked behind me, catching me by surprised. I ignored her, I placed her portions with ease.
"I'll eat later," I muttered, already wiping my hands on a towel.
Aizi frowned, chopsticks hovering midair. "Later? Since when do you skip breakfast?"
"I don't skip. Just… no time today."
Her eyes narrowed, sharp, curious. "No time? What's the rush? You've still got an hour before class."
I avoided her gaze, reaching for my bag. "I've got stuff to do. That's all."
"Stuff," she echoed flatly, staring at me. Then her grin crept back, slow and sly. "Ohhh, I get it. Is this 'stuff' about a girl?"
I froze for just a second—barely noticeable, but enough for her to catch it.
Her smirk widened instantly. "It is, isn't it? Nii-chan's hiding something~"
"Don't be ridiculous." I slung the strap of my bag over my shoulder, forcing my voice steady. "Eat your food before it gets cold."
But Aizi leaned forward on the table, chin propped in her hand, eyes glittering. "You're running out so fast, not even touching your breakfast… You never do that unless it's important. So what's her name?"
I clenched my jaw. "I said—drop it."
For once, she didn't push further. But her smirk didn't fade either. If anything, it deepened.
Like she'd just found a brand-new button to press. For a moment, she just stared. Then, slowly, her smile slipped away.
"You'd rather rush out than eat with me?" Her voice was quiet, flat, the teasing gone. "Fine. Whatever."
She picked up her spoon and fork without looking at me, eyes lowered to the plate. The air felt heavier, pressing against my back as I moved toward the door.
Guilt twisted in my stomach, but I forced myself to keep walking. If I stayed, I'd be late. If I said anything, she'd ask questions I wasn't ready to answer.
The streets weren't too crowded yet, just the usual scatter of students in uniforms and a couple of shops rolling their shutters open. I spotted her before she saw me.
Seya Aranami.
She stood at the corner, her bag slung over one shoulder, sunlight catching in her hair. She was fiddling with her phone, probably checking the time, and for a second I just… stopped. My chest tightened again, and I almost turned back out of reflex.
Too late. She looked up, her eyes locking onto me instantly. Her face lit up like a switch.
"Reui-kun!" she called, waving with both hands like I might somehow miss her otherwise.
I scratched my cheek, trying to play it cool as I walked up. "You're really early."
She puffed her cheeks, half-smiling, half-pouting. "And you're really late. I thought you overslept."
"...It's 8:20" I muttered.
"It's late.. I got here 20 minutes before you.."
I groaned under my breath, but the truth was, I couldn't stop the corner of my mouth from tugging up. Suddenly, she intertwined her arms to mine, holding it firmly.