His hand still cradled Ai's face, his thumb rubbing tenderly against her flushed cheek as she giggled, nuzzling into his palm like a cat seeking more affection.
Rika stood just outside the living room, half-hidden by the hallway wall, her heart hammering painfully in her chest as she clutched the frame for support.
Yuki stood behind Shin, frozen stiff, his small hands trembling at his sides, his cheeks burning a vivid red.
The seconds stretched painfully.
Shin glanced over Ai's head, seemingly remembering that someone was there. His gaze flicked to Yuki, and he grinned almost sheepishly — no regret in his eyes, only an easy, unapologetic calm.
"Oh, hey," Shin said casually, still stroking Ai's hair like everything was perfectly normal. "Didn't notice you were still staring."
He had known Yuki was behind him when he kissed Ai. He'd felt his presence, tense and vibrating with barely-contained emotion.
What Shin didn't know—
Was that Rika was standing there too.
Watching everything.
*God, he kissed her like it was nothing. Like it was the most natural thing in the world.
He didn't even hesitate...* Rika thought miserably, her chest tight, tears burning the back of her eyes.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!" Yuki suddenly burst out, his voice high and cracking as his arms flailed wildly, nearly knocking over a small potted plant.
Ai, still clinging to Shin's arm like a possessive kitten, just giggled sweetly. "Yuki-San~ You're so noisy."
Rika flinched at the sound, trying to make herself smaller behind the wall.
*They're really... they're really like that...
It's real.*
Yuki stomped forward angrily, practically vibrating with outrage. "You—you—you, THIS! You said—you said you were 'close!' BUT STILL!"
Shin chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I told you, didn't I? That we were really close." His voice was so calm, so easygoing, it made Rika's heart hurt even more.
"You did but still—!" Yuki choked on his own words, red-faced and furious.
Kissing... hugging... touching... loving...
He didn't just say 'close.' He meant lovers.
He meant family. He meant home.
Yuki spun around in a circle, stomping like an angry kitten, his little fists balled tight at his sides.
Meanwhile, Rika stayed frozen, her hands shaking against the wall, her legs weak.
Shin loves Ai. Ai loves Shin.
And Rika—
Rika loved Ai.
The pain lanced through her like a blade.
Rika bit her lip hard enough to taste blood, fighting back the hot sting of tears.
She wasn't jealous that Ai was kissed.
She was jealous that Shin was the one kissing her.
Shin turned toward Yuki, who was now glaring at him with an almost tearful rage.
"Come on," Shin said, throwing his thumb casually over his shoulder toward the kitchen. "You're here for dinner, right? Don't just stand there."
Yuki stomped after Shin angrily, while Ai skipped alongside, still holding onto Shin's hand happily.
Rika took a deep breath, forcing her legs to move.
"You're all crazy!" Yuki huffed again, stomping into the living room, his small fists still clenched at his sides.
Shin just laughed, the sound easy and unbothered as he tugged Ai after him. "You're the one who insisted on coming, Yuki. Don't complain now."
"I didn't know it was going to be this!" Yuki barked back, face still burning a furious shade of red.
"You said you were curious," Ai chimed in sweetly, peeking over her shoulder with a mischievous smile. "Curiosity killed the cat, Yuki-San~"
"Don't lump me in with cats!" Yuki yelled, face scrunching in frustration.
Rika followed silently behind, her heart still a heavy, tangled mess. The lively banter between the three of them buzzed around her like static, but she couldn't summon the energy to join in. Not yet.
They all poured into the cozy living room, the late afternoon sun casting a warm, golden glow across the plush carpet and soft couches.
Shin finally turned around properly, catching sight of Rika standing awkwardly near the doorway.
A warm, easy smile spread across his face.
"Hey, Rika," he said, voice low and kind. "Glad you could come."
Rika swallowed, her throat dry. She forced a small, polite smile and bowed slightly.
"Thanks for inviting me," she said, her voice a little too quiet.
Ai bounced happily beside her brother, clapping her hands. "Rika was really excited to come!"
"I heard," Shin said, his grin widening a fraction. "And Ai said you asked for pancakes too."
Rika flushed slightly, ducking her head.
"I—um... yeah," she mumbled.
The soft chuckle Shin gave in response made her stomach twist painfully.
"Anyway," Shin continued, turning to the shorter boy still sulking beside the couch, "this grumpy little guy here is Yuki."
He reached out to ruffle Yuki's hair again, and Yuki immediately swatted his hand away with a furious growl.
"Don't touch me, you idiot!" Yuki snapped, cheeks flaming again.
Rika blinked in surprise, staring at Yuki properly for the first time.
Small. Slender. Pretty face. Long eyelashes. Sharp, fiery eyes.
*She is really cute.*_ Rika thought, bewildered.
Before she could figure it out, Shin casually added, "Don't mind him. He's always like this."
"I'm not always like anything!" Yuki snapped back, crossing his arms tightly over his chest and turning away with a loud "hmph."
Definitely a Tsundere, Rika thought, baffled. A very angry, very tsundere girl.
"You guys get to know each other," Shin said, waving a hand lazily. "I need to freshen up before I start cooking."
"I'll help you shower, Onii-chan~!" Ai chirped, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
Shin didn't even blink.
"Sure."
Rika choked on her own spit.
Yuki made a noise like a dying cat.
Ai just beamed, grabbing Shin's arm and dragging him down the hallway without even a hint of shame.
"Come on, Onii-chan~ Let's save water and time!"
"Yeah, yeah," Shin said, utterly unfazed as he let himself be tugged away.
Within seconds, they disappeared down the hall, the faint sound of Ai's giggles echoing behind them.
Leaving—
Yuki and Rika.
Alone.
In the suddenly way-too-big, way-too-quiet living room.
Rika awkwardly shuffled toward the big sofa and plopped down heavily, her hands nervously twisting in her lap.
Yuki stood frozen for a moment, glaring fiercely at nothing in particular, before stomping over and dropping onto the opposite end of the couch with a loud thump.
The silence stretched between them like a suffocating blanket.
Neither of them looked at the other.
Neither of them spoke.
Both of them sat there, vibrating with stress, their thoughts a chaotic, tangled mess.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Rika cleared her throat awkwardly.
"So... um..." she mumbled, glancing sideways at Yuki.
Yuki immediately snapped his head around, glaring at her with wide, furious eyes.
"Don't talk to me!" he barked.
Rika flinched, blinking in surprise.
"...Sorry," she muttered, looking down at her hands.
Another awkward silence.
Then Yuki huffed loudly, crossing his arms and slouching back against the couch.
"Not your fault," he grumbled, barely above a whisper.
Rika peeked at him from the corner of her eye.
Wow. So tsundere.
Kind of cute, actually... for a girl.
"...You're Ai's friend, right?" Yuki said after a moment, his voice still stiff and defensive.
"Yeah," Rika nodded. "We've been friends since middle school."
Yuki grunted, clearly not knowing what to say next.
"And... um..." Rika hesitated, then blurted, "You're really close to Onii-San?"
At that, Yuki stiffened like a startled cat.
His face turned bright red and he turned his head away sharply.
"I—I'm not close to him!" he snapped. "I just—he's—he's my—! I just—! Shut up!"
Rika blinked, stunned.
*...Yup. Definitely a Tsundere.*
She bit back a laugh, feeling a strange, warm bubble rise in her chest despite everything.
"You like him, don't you?" she said quietly.
Yuki let out a strangled noise, like a kettle about to explode.
"I—NO—I MEAN—!" Yuki's fists clenched in his lap. "Maybe! SO WHAT?!"
Rika smiled softly.
"Nothing. I get it," she said, her voice a little too soft, a little too sad.
They sat there in silence again, both drowning in their own miserable thoughts.
Yuki fidgeted, kicking the carpet.
"You..." he muttered after a long moment, "You like Ai, don't you?"
Rika's heart stuttered in her chest.
She looked down, biting her lip hard.
"...Yeah," she whispered.
Yuki sighed loudly, slumping even further into the couch.
"This sucks," he grumbled.
"Yeah," Rika agreed, her voice cracking slightly. "It really does."
Another long pause.
Then Yuki muttered, so quietly Rika almost missed it:
"They're idiots."
Rika snorted before she could stop herself.
"Yeah," she said, laughing bitterly. "They really are."
For the first time since arriving, the tension between them loosened just a little.
They sat there, two miserable idiots, stewing in their unrequited feelings together.
And somehow, it was... comforting.
They understood each other in a way no one else could.
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END OF CHAPTER : 61 : WHEN HOMO MEETS!
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