A warm and bright, very girlish bedroom—soft pastel curtains filtered the morning sun into a gentle glow that spilled across plush stuffed animals and meticulously organized manga shelves. At her custom gaming desk, adorned with keyboard charms and character figures, Kani Nayuta's turbulent emotions slowly calmed, leaving behind a lingering sense of unreality that seemed to hang in the air like dust motes in the sunlight.
How… did a pie just fall from the sky like this?
Her mind replayed the unexpected message over and over. What in the world is happening? Why would Winter-sensei suddenly ask me out? She tilted her head, her silver hair cascading over one shoulder. Shouldn't he be… getting all hot and heavy with Kasumigaoka Utaha-senpai right about now?
After that breathtaking duet was released last night, she had been certain—convinced!—that the Kasumigaoka siblings would be wrapped up in each other for days, if not weeks. The world would fade away for them; there'd be no room for anyone else. It was the natural order of things, the destined climax after such a passionate collaboration.
So… why was she involved?
The curiosity itched at her, a restless, fizzy feeling in her chest that she couldn't ignore. Pushing herself back from the desk, she padded over to her bed and dove into the pile of pillows, hugging a large shark plushie to her chest. She squeezed it, letting out a muffled squeal. But the question remained, persistent and buzzing. After a few more moments of internal squirming, she scrambled back to her computer station, the chair rolling smoothly under her weight.
Her fingers flew across the mechanical keyboard with practiced ease.
[Kani Nayuta]: "Winter-sensei, just what is the meaning of this? Why do you suddenly want to go on a date with me? And even… take me to a hotel… (/ω＼)! Really?…"
She hit send, then immediately buried her face in her hands, peeking through her fingers at the screen. The reply came not with a delay, but with a deliberate, teasing pause that made her heartbeat stutter.
[Touji.]: "Hmm…"
[Touji.]: "Let's see… I crave your body. I crave it way too much, (ˉ﹃ˉ*)!"
"Pfft—! Ehehehe~~!"
A giggle burst past her lips before she could stop it. Kani Nayuta slumped back in her chair, the tension melting away into warm, giddy amusement. So he's in a playful mood today.
[Kani Nayuta]: "What kind of nonsense is that?! Though… speaking such a bold truth so casually!" she typed back, her expression softening into a dazed, dreamy smile.
She cupped her warm cheeks, feeling the heat bloom there. Twisting side to side on the swivel chair, she absentmindedly rubbed her fair, slender legs together. The truth was… she craved it too!
As a beautiful, cultured young woman with a well-curated collection of doujinshi and a deep appreciation for the arts, Kani Nayuta felt with utmost confidence that when it came to… certain moods, boys couldn't hold a candle to her imaginative fervor.
Her mind, rich with theoretical knowledge—definitely richer than Kasumigaoka Utaha-senpai's, she thought with a hint of competitive pride—was already conjuring scenarios. She pictured Kasumigaoka Touji in various, vividly detailed poses and situations, each more thrilling than the last. A masterful artist like her could visualize the lighting, the composition, the emotional weight…
"…Fufu."***
On the other side of the city, a world away from the pastel bedroom, Kasumigaoka Touji accepted a warm, neatly packed bag from the kindly old man behind the counter of Matsunoya.
"Here you are, Touji-kun. One fried pork cutlet curry rice and two potato croquettes, extra sauce on the side like always."
"Thanks, Oji-san. I really appreciate it."
"Anytime. Give my best to your sister."
With a nod and a wave, Touji stepped out of the cozy eatery and into the crisp morning. The bag steamed slightly in the cool air, fragrant with the promise of comfort food. As he walked, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Balancing the bag and the complimentary cup of miso soup carefully, he pulled it out with his free hand, a grin spreading across his face as he read Nayuta's message. He tapped out a reply while walking, his steps unhurried.
[Touji.]: "But if you want the real reason…"
He paused for dramatic effect, glancing up at the spectacularly blue sky. It was a flawless day—the kind that felt like a fresh start. The sun was bright but not harsh, and his mood mirrored it perfectly. He checked the time: 10:15. Utaha had given him until 10:30, technically. He had a little leeway, and running with soup was a disaster waiting to happen.
He resumed typing, his expression softening into something more genuine.
[Touji.]: "It's mainly because I've fallen for Kani Nayuta-sensei."
[Touji.]: "I'm not just your fan anymore. I don't want to keep this as a pure, distant, platonic author-reader relationship… I…"
He let the sentence hang, sending it as he turned the corner onto his street. The vibration that came back was almost immediate.
[Kani Nayuta]: "I… I like Winter-sensei too! Even more than before! ( / ω ＼ )!"
After half a month of real-world interactions—working in the same studio, sharing meals, those late-night brainstorming calls that sometimes drifted into personal territory—her feelings had solidified.
Kasumigaoka Touji was handsome, yes, but more than that, he was genuinely kind and surprisingly reliable. He wasn't a boring, overly earnest guy either; he had a wicked, playful side online that could make her blush, her heart pound, and her imagination run wild in the best way. She liked that Kasumigaoka Touji—the whole, complicated, fascinating package.
A flicker of concern dimmed her happiness for a second. There was an inescapable, formidable presence to consider.
[Kani Nayuta]: "Speaking of which… is this really okay with Kasumigaoka-senpai?"
She knew the elder Kasumigaoka sibling's attitude towards her had thawed considerably since the studio sessions began, but was it truly okay for her to spend a night out with Touji? The dynamics felt fragile, like a thin sheet of ice over deep water.
[Touji.]: "What problem could she possibly have?"
[Touji.]: "If she dares to throw a fit, I'll just put her over my knee and teach her a lesson! A proper spanking should clear up any misunderstandings."
[Kani Nayuta]: "Squinting suspiciously ( ﹁ ﹁ )."
If I didn't know you two, I might actually believe that brave front, she thought, a wry smile touching her lips. The way you dote on her is obvious to anyone with eyes. Not calling you out on your bluff… that's just my gentle nature, sensei!
[Touji.]: "What's with that look?! I can sense your skepticism through the screen, and I feel deeply offended!"
[Kani Nayuta]: "You're overthinking it, Winter-sensei. Please, don't pay it any mind~"
She replied, her smile returning as she typed in a joyful rhythm, the click-clack of the keys a happy soundtrack. The playful banter was its own kind of intimacy.
****
Touji chuckled, sending a swiftly drawn emoji of a hand spanking a leg. Nayuta fired back an identical one almost instantly.
Oh? You dare to fight back, sensei?
His competitive spirit flared. He quickly found and sent a more elaborate one—a stylized figure being hung up and whipped with a comical THWACK effect. Thus began a rapid-fire, silent war of increasingly absurd and suggestive sticker retaliation. He was so engrossed that he almost walked past his own apartment door.
Smiling to himself, he called a temporary truce, pocketed his phone, and shifted the now-cooler food bag in his grip. Pushing the door open, he was about to call out for Utaha when the woman in question emerged from the bathroom.
"You're back?"
Utaha's voice was laced with a sleep-tinged laziness. She was dressed in an oversized, dark gray hooded sweatshirt she'd bought on a family shopping trip earlier in the month. It swallowed her frame, the elongated hem brushing her thighs, radiating a vibe of pure, unadulterated comfort. It was simple, plain, and utterly charming in its casualness, highlighting her relaxed, off-duty allure.
She greeted him, then immediately fished her phone from the sweatshirt's pocket, checking the screen. A mischievous, cat-like smile curled her lips as she raised a slender, accusing finger.
"Brother… is overtime."
"Hah? What are you talking about…?"
Touji blinked, setting the food down on the kotatsu table. A sinking feeling began in his stomach.
"When Brother left, you said it was 10:05," Utaha stated, her tone dripping with false innocence and impeccable logic. "But I checked the clock. It was actually 9:50. That means your mission was to return with sustenance by 10:20 at the latest. However…"
She dramatically presented her phone screen like a prosecutor revealing damning evidence. The digital numbers glowed: 10:27.
"Ara ara… It's a pity, really. You've failed the mission parameters."
"Is your conscience actually that dark!?"
Kasumigaoka Touji drew a sharp, theatrical gasp, looking at his sister with an expression of pure, unvarnished betrayal. The sheer audacity! She'd given him a false start time, shaving off a full ten minutes from his allotted window. He was only a few minutes late by the real clock!
"Even the Mariana Trench isn't as deep or as dark as your conscience, Onee-san! There's not enough light in the ocean's deepest chasm to illuminate the shadows in your heart!"
"What did you say? My conscience is dark?" Utaha placed a hand over her heart, feigning profound hurt. "This is slander… blatant slander against your dear, trusting older sister who waited so patiently—"
Slap—
The rebuttal was swift and physical. Touji's hand came down in a light, crisp smack on the curve of her backside, the sound echoing faintly in the quiet apartment.
"Onee-san," he accused, his voice a mix of exasperation and affection. "How can you pull such a devious trick on me? I ran out to get you breakfast before you'd even splashed water on your face! I braved the morning crowds for your curry rice!"
Utaha hopped away a step, rubbing the spot with a mock-pout. "Now that you mention it, it does seem a little unfair when you put it that way…"
She then shrugged, the pout transforming into a sly grin. "But when I consider why Brother is working so hard to butter me up… I feel the scales of justice balance out once more."
She smacked her lips lightly. Humans were walking contradictions—Utaha was the first to admit it. She had orchestrated this little test, yet seeing Touji diligently complete the errand did stir a faint, irrational thread of displeasure. Of course, it was only a tiny thread. A much louder, more persistent sensation was the pleasant ache in her legs, a constant, physical memo from the previous night: Girl, you are in no condition to escalate anything right now.
"..."
Touji stared at her, reading the playful defiance and the underlying weariness in her posture. Alright, alright. You win this round. He smacked his own lips in a mirror of her gesture, conceding the point.
He cleared his throat, masterfully changing the subject. "Let's just eat. It's still warm. I'm going to go wash up."
With that, he beat a retreat toward the bathroom, leaving Utaha to roll her eyes at his back—a fond, exasperated gesture. She then shuffled toward the kotatsu, the tantalizing aroma of fried pork cutlet and curry finally claiming her full attention. The morning's strategic victory was sweet, but a hot meal was sweeter.