By the time Rito and Sayaka reached the shrine residence where Yae lived, the night air had cooled into a quiet calm. A soft light spilled from the entrance, and in front of it stood two girls—one with chestnut-brown hair and warm brown eyes, the other with silver-tinted locks that caught the lantern's glow, giving her an almost ethereal look.
The brown-haired girl, her brows knitted with concern, was the first to notice them approaching. "Yae-nee…" she murmured, her voice a mix of relief and reprimand.
That was Yuna Amagami, the eldest among the younger sisters—composed, serious, and the sort of girl who seemed born to take responsibility even when she didn't ask for it.
She hurried toward them, her steps light but urgent, and stopped right in front of Rito. Her eyes swept over Yae's flushed face resting on his shoulder before she nodded slightly.
"Thank you… for carrying my sister back."
Her tone was polite yet firm, the kind of calm voice that carried quiet authority. Sayaka smiled faintly from beside Rito, exchanging a knowing glance with her. The recognition in Yuna's eyes said enough—if Sayaka trusted the boy, she would too.
Yae stirred slightly on Rito's back, murmuring something unintelligible, her sweet breath brushing past his ear. Before he could react, the silver-haired sister, Asahi, stepped forward. Her eyes softened as she touched Yae's cheek with gentle fingers.
"She's completely out," Asahi said in a low, rueful tone, brushing a strand of Yae's hair aside. "If it's alright… could you help us carry her to her room? I don't think we'll be able to wake her."
Her request was soft but practical—and Rito couldn't say no to that. "Yeah, sure," he replied immediately, adjusting Yae's weight a little. His muscles barely protested; even now, after carrying her all this way, he wasn't winded.
But before he could move, Yuna interjected. "Wait."
Her voice had a firmness to it, almost protective. She cast a wary glance toward Rito, then turned to her sister. "Asahi, that won't be necessary. We can take care of Yae-nee ourselves. Her room isn't… exactly in a welcoming state right now."
There was an awkward pause. The apology in her tone was faint but genuine. Even she knew refusing his help after he had carried Yae all the way here seemed cold.
Rito smiled a little, scratching his cheek. "It's alright. I understand. Just tell me how to help—maybe I can at least get her off my back safely."
He remembered Yae's room from the anime version of her character—a notorious disaster zone of scattered clothes and unopened books. He silently prayed reality wasn't exactly the same, though judging by the sisters' reaction, it probably was.
Before Yuna could argue further, Asahi chimed in again, a playful lilt in her tone.
"Then let him put her in my room. It's clean, and the bed's free. There's no way we can carry her upstairs like this by ourselves."
Yuna's lips tightened slightly, clearly torn between pride and practicality.
Rito stood between them, feeling caught in the quiet storm of sisterly bickering. The two were so different—Yuna's voice sharp with worry, Asahi's soft but insistent—yet both carried the same emotion at their core: care.
Watching them argue for their sister's sake, something inside Rito twisted a little.
They really care for each other, he thought. Mikan and I… are we like that too?
His expression softened as he remembered his own home—Mikan waiting alone, the TV humming quietly, their parents' absence filling every corner with a familiar silence.
Even when they laughed or teased each other, that emptiness never really left.
Looking at the Amagami sisters—the way they argued, worried, and cared in their own clumsy ways—he felt a strange warmth stir in his chest.
It wasn't envy. It was something gentler.
A quiet longing for that kind of noisy, heartfelt bond—the kind of family warmth that felt… alive.
"Umm… girls," Sayaka finally cut through the rising exchange, her tone calm but edged with amusement. "Although Rito-kun here isn't complaining, he's been carrying Yae for quite a long distance. I think we should decide quickly before he ends up collapsing right here at the door."
Her words drew both sisters out of their little standoff. The two blinked in unison, their cheeks faintly pink as their gazes fell upon Rito—still standing straight, Yae resting soundly on his back, and yet smiling with that composed, polite calm that made the scene feel oddly wholesome.
"S-Sorry," Yuna said quickly, regaining her composure. Her expression softened into a warm smile. "Let's go in. I'll make some tea—it's the least I can do for helping Yae-nee."
She stepped aside and slid open the wooden door. A faint aroma of incense drifted out from inside—clean tatami and the distant sound of water trickling near the shrine garden. Rito followed her lead, careful with his steps as they slipped off their shoes at the genkan. Yuna handed him an old pair of house slippers.
"These belonged to Grandpa," she explained softly, her smile turning nostalgic for a second. "They should fit."
"Thanks," Rito replied with a small bow. The home felt peaceful, like time itself slowed once you entered.
"Asahi, please take Rito up to your room. I'll stay here with Sayaka-san," Yuna instructed, turning toward the hallway.
"Got it." Asahi's silver hair shimmered slightly under the hallway light as she looked at Rito with a mischievous grin. "Come along, big brother Rito. Just don't look around my room with any… lecherous gaze, alright?"
Her teasing tone came with a tilt of her head, playful yet watchful, like she was testing him.
Rito sighed inwardly, shaking his head. "You underestimate me," he muttered with a faint smirk. "After growing up with Mikan, a professional-level teaser, I'm immune to that kind of provocation."
"Heh! Confident, aren't you?" Asahi leaned in, eyes gleaming.
"Don't worry. I already passed Yae-san's, uh… 'practical exam' earlier," Rito replied dryly, recalling the sensation of her weight—and warmth—against his back.
That earned him a pout. "Hmph! With a view like that, I bet you're still single."
That one hit home. Rito froze mid-step, speechless. Asahi noticed instantly and grinned like a cat who had found her favorite toy.
"Ah, silence—my favorite kind of victory," she said with a little hum.
They reached her room soon after. When Asahi slid open the door, Rito was greeted by a wave of soft pink hues and floral charm. Everything inside screamed of a girl's gentle personality: a few stuffed animals lined neatly on the shelf, pastel curtains swaying slightly with the cool breeze, and a faintly sweet scent of shampoo in the air.
He stepped inside hesitantly, feeling oddly self-aware. "It's… cute," he admitted under his breath.
"'Cute,' huh?" Asahi turned around with a smirk. "You sure you're not just nervous, big brother Rito? I thought you said you were immune."
He chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Alright, maybe I overestimated my composure. It's just… well, it feels strange being in a girl's room. That's all."
"Ufufu~ So you do get flustered," she teased, pressing her finger to her lips.
"Not flustered—just… aware," he corrected, glancing away. "And for the record, I kept my promise. Not even a stray thought of anything indecent."
Asahi's smile softened at that—just slightly. "You're honest. I like that."
Her voice carried a faint warmth now, the kind that slipped through between her usual teasing tone. Together, they helped settle Yae onto the soft futon. The older sister murmured something in her sleep, a faint, sleepy smile playing on her lips. Seeing that, Rito couldn't help but let out a breath.
She really was a beauty, even when completely out cold. The faint blush on her cheeks from the alcohol and the way her hair fanned out across the pillow—it made him realize just how close they'd been all this time.
Rito straightened up quickly, his face turning slightly red. "Well… she's safe now."
Asahi caught that change instantly, her grin returning full force. "Ara~ so that's what makes you nervous, big brother Rito. I knew it."
"Don't start," he sighed. "You're just as bad as Mikan sometimes."
"I'll take that as a compliment," she said, hands on her hips.
Despite her teasing, Asahi found herself smiling genuinely at him. Beneath the light humor, there was admiration—the quiet kind you didn't express in words. This boy was kind, steady, and a little awkward… but definitely different.