The familiar creak of the gate and the click of the front door announced their arrival. Ai pushed the door open, stepping inside first, kicking off her shoes lazily at the genkan.
"Home sweet home!" she chirped, twirling once as she stretched her arms over her head.
Rika smiled faintly, following her inside, the scent of polished wood and faint lemon cleaner filling her senses. Everything was so them. So warm and homey and soft.
Shin wasn't home yet. Of course he wasn't. They both knew his classes didn't end for another half-hour.
Still, the house felt heavier without him here. Emptier.
Ai dropped her bag onto the couch and threw herself down dramatically, sprawling with all the grace of a lazy cat.
"I'm gross and sweaty," she whined, kicking her feet. "I need a shower."
Rika chuckled, amused by how naturally Ai turned even whining into something adorable.
"Go," Rika said, waving her hand lazily. "You invited me for dinner, remember? I'm just here for Shin's pancakes."
Ai grinned mischievously, eyes sparkling. "You're so greedy."
"You love it," Rika teased.
Ai stuck out her tongue before bouncing up from the couch and skipping toward the bathroom, calling over her shoulder, "Make yourself at home! I'll shower real quick and then start dinner!"
The door closed with a click.
Rika was alone.
She stood there for a second, listening to the distant sound of water running, the faint humming of Ai's voice as she prepared for her shower.
And just like that—
Dangerous thoughts started to creep in.
I'm alone. With her. And this time, Onii-chan isn't here to distract me.
This time, it's just us.
Just me and Ai... and the whole house... and her barely dressed in the next room…
Rika squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block the images that came unbidden.
What if I just… walked into the bathroom? Pretended I needed to tell her something?
What if I just… saw her standing there, water running down her bare skin?
What if she turned around and smiled at me? Innocent. Trusting. Let me touch her...
What if I kissed her? Right there, soap-slick and soft and perfect?
Rika felt her whole body flush with heat, her hands trembling slightly at her sides.
Stop it, you idiot! She's your best friend. She trusts you!
You're not a monster.
You're not... some creep.
Biting her lip hard enough to hurt, Rika forced herself to sit down heavily on the couch. She grabbed the TV remote and flipped it on blindly, hoping the noise would drown out her thoughts.
Cartoons blared across the screen. Something bright and stupid and full of colors.
It didn't help.
God, what's wrong with me?
She sat there, squirming, trying not to think about the girl singing in the bathroom just down the hall. About the way Ai's body had pressed against hers so casually earlier. About the soft, teasing curve of her smile.
The front door rattled suddenly, a knock echoing through the hallway, followed by the sound of the door opening.
"Ai?" a familiar voice called out.
Rika's head snapped up.
It was Shin.
She stood up and peeked out of the living room toward the entryway.
Shin was kicking off his shoes, looking impossibly casual in his slightly rumpled school uniform. Standing shyly behind him was Yuki, someone Rika didn't recognize—short, almost fragile-looking, with snowy white hair and delicate features that made him look more like a doll than a real person. His big, pale blue eyes darted nervously around the unfamiliar house.
Before Rika could say anything, there was a loud squeal from the hallway.
"Aaaaahhh! Onii-chan!!!"
The bathroom door burst open—and Ai came flying out.
Rika barely had time to register the fact that Ai was wearing nothing but a light blue bra and matching panties before she sprinted straight past her, bare feet slapping the floor.
"Ai, what the hell—!" Rika yelped, stunned.
Ai didn't hear her—or didn't care.
With a delighted cry, she threw herself at Shin, leaping into his arms as he laughed and caught her effortlessly.
"Onii-chaaaaan!" Ai giggled, nuzzling into his chest, her legs wrapping around his waist with the ease of long habit.
"Miss me that much, huh?" Shin teased, stroking her damp hair fondly.
"You're late!" she pouted, clinging tighter.
"You're early," he corrected, laughing.
And then—
Right there, in front of Rika and the white-haired boy—
They kissed.
Not a chaste peck.
Not a siblingly forehead kiss.
A real kiss.
Deep and slow and way too intimate for siblings.
Rika's mouth fell open, her whole body going rigid with shock.
Behind Shin, the white-haired boy—Yuki, apparently—looked equally stunned, his pale cheeks flushing bright red.
The sound of their kiss filled the hallway: wet, noisy, grossly passionate.
Ai moaned softly against Shin's lips, her fingers tangling in the fabric of his uniform. Shin chuckled darkly, clearly savoring her neediness, his hands roaming shamelessly over her bare back.
Rika felt her soul leave her body.
She had heard from Ai, sure.
About how close Ai and Shin were. About the way they acted more like lovers than siblings.
But hearing about it and seeing it were two completely different things.
*Holy shit holy shit holy shit what the hell am I watching?*
She tore her gaze away with effort, only to find Yuki staring too—except his wide, glassy eyes were locked onto Ai, not Shin.
And in that moment, Rika saw it. Saw it so clearly it was almost painful.
Yuki was jealous.
Jealous of Ai.
He loves Shin.
Rika's chest tightened painfully as the realization hit her like a truck.
I'm jealous.
I'm jealous of him.
I'm jealous of Onii-San.
Because I want to be the one Ai clings to like that. I want to be the one she kisses like that.
Rika staggered back a step, clutching the edge of the wall for support.
She wasn't jealous of Shin being kissed.
She was jealous of Shin kissing Ai.
Beside her, Yuki seemed to come to the same conclusion about himself. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, his small frame trembling slightly as he glared daggers at Ai's back.
Neither of them said a word.
Neither of them could.
In front of them, Ai finally pulled away from Shin, giggling breathlessly, completely oblivious to the devastation she had just wrought.
"You're the best, Onii-chan," she whispered against his lips.
"And you're mine," Shin murmured back, cradling her like she was something precious.
Rika forced herself to look away, heart shattering inside her chest.
Beside her, Yuki whispered under his breath, so softly she barely heard it:
"Unfair..."
It was.
It was so, so unfair.
And there was nothing either of them could do about it.
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END OF CHAPTER : 60 : A CRUSHING REALIZATION!
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