The dim light of the television cast a low blue glow across the quiet living room. Shin lay slouched on the couch in a loose t-shirt and pajama pants, one arm tucked behind his head as an action movie played without his focus. His attention had drifted far from the screen a while ago.
Then came soft footsteps.
Ai padded into the room without a word, her hair damp from a shower, clinging to her shoulders. She wore a loose off-shoulder top that dipped low—pink bra straps slipping visibly down both arms—and shorts so short they barely passed for sleepwear. In her hands: a small bowl of curd, spoon tucked between her lips as she flopped beside him on the couch without looking at him.
Shin's gaze shifted, slowly dragging over her legs, her exposed shoulders, the side of her chest where the top dipped just a little too much. Her thigh brushed his.
"…You know that top's practically falling off," he muttered.
Ai spooned another bite of curd into her mouth. "So?"
"You're doing it on purpose."
She finally looked at him, chewing slowly. "So what if I am?"
His eyes narrowed—somewhere between amused and something darker. Then, without warning, he reached out, hooked an arm around her waist, and yanked her toward him.
The bowl nearly slipped from her hands. "Onii-Chan!"
"Shut up," he said lowly, eyes locked on hers.
He slid his hand along her side—his palm warm, fingers firm—grazing bare skin where her shirt had lifted. She froze under his touch.
His hand didn't stop.
It curved around her waist, down her hip, brushing against the curve of her butt. He squeezed, slowly, deliberately.
Ai's breath hitched. "W-What are you doing…?"
Still not letting her go, he leaned in—close enough to feel her breath stutter. Her lips parted in surprise just as his brushed hers.
A soft kiss. Then another—firmer, lingering.
Ai didn't pull away.
In fact, she leaned closer, her fingers gripping his shirt. Her knees pressed against his thigh, her body curling into his as if searching for warmth, for something more.
Shin's hand roamed again, sliding up her back, fingers grazing the strap of her bra, slipping slightly beneath the fabric as he deepened the kiss. Ai whimpered softly, clinging tighter.
Their lips met, soft and warm, her breath catching when he deepened the kiss just slightly—just enough to make her tremble.
When he finally pulled away, he didn't let go. His forehead rested gently against hers, thumb brushing her bottom lip.
"…Your lips taste like curd," Shin muttered, a half-smile playing on his lips.
Ai giggled softly against his mouth.
"Duh, I had curd just now," she replied, voice teasing. Her lips ghosted his again. "Want to taste more?"
Shin didn't answer that—he just kissed her again, slower this time. Then when they finally parted, he looked at her with narrowed eyes.
"…You didn't look at me when you sat down. Why?"
Ai raised her eyebrows, clearly expecting the question.
"You were trying to tease me, weren't you?" he went on, brushing a finger along her bare shoulder, grazing the strap of her top. "Trying to act like you're in charge tonight?"
She smiled, smug and knowing, not denying a thing.
"Maybe I was. You always look at me like that when I dress like this," she said lightly, adjusting her top like it was nothing. "So I thought… why not mess with you a little?"
Her tone was innocent. Her actions? Not so much. She shifted fully into his lap now, arms draped lazily around his neck.
"You let me, anyway. Always do," she whispered, nuzzling into the side of his face. "Spoil me so much, Onii-chan."
Shin chuckled softly, letting his hands rest on her bare thighs.
"Don't act like you're not spoiled on purpose," he said, voice dropping. "You climb into my lap like you belong here."
Ai kissed his jaw. "Because I do."
Shin didn't reply with words.
His hands slowly tightened on Ai's thighs, and his lips found hers again—warmer now, unhurried. She responded immediately, her arms coiling around his neck, pulling herself closer until their chests touched, soft fabric pressing against his skin. Her scent—shampoo, curd, something sweet—filled his senses.
"Mmph…" Ai whimpered faintly into his mouth, tilting her head for a better angle.
The kiss deepened. Less teasing now—more wanting. Her fingers slipped into his hair, threading gently as if afraid he might pull away again. But he didn't.
Shin's hands drifted up, gliding over the curve of her hips, fingertips dipping beneath the hem of her shirt just enough to feel her bare skin—warm, soft, familiar.
"You're too good at this," he murmured between kisses, his voice low and thick.
Ai giggled softly, her forehead brushing his. "Maybe I practiced."
That made him raise a brow. "Practiced?"
She nodded, eyes sparkling with mischief. "On my pillow. Every night."
He huffed a short laugh, then leaned in again—this time kissing her cheek, her jaw, the side of her neck where her skin was still a little damp from her shower. She shivered.
"Dork," he whispered against her skin.
"You like this dork," she whispered back, breath trembling.
He didn't deny it. Instead, he wrapped his arms fully around her waist, pulling her flush against him. Ai gasped softly, her legs shifting to either side of his hips now. The way she settled into his lap made his breath hitch, his body reacting before he could think.
"…You're dangerous when you know I won't stop you," he muttered.
Ai smiled sweetly, brushing his nose with hers. "Then don't stop me."
Her hands traced the line of his collarbone, fingers teasing the edge of his shirt before slipping underneath to rest against his chest. His heart beat steadily beneath her touch, but faster now.
"I like when you kiss me like that," she whispered.
Shin's thumb stroked her bare thigh, slowly, deliberately. "Like what?"
"Like you mean it," she said, lips brushing his again.
He smiled, almost sadly. "I always mean it."
That stilled her for a moment. Her expression softened—turned earnest. "I know."
Their lips met again, slower this time, more deliberate. Ai leaned in with all of herself, as if trying to pour every emotion she couldn't say into that kiss. Shin accepted it—returned it—with just as much quiet passion, his hands never still, always caressing.
She felt so small in his arms. So familiar. So… his.
When they finally parted again, Ai didn't speak right away. She just rested her head against his shoulder, her fingers lightly tracing circles on his chest.
"…Do you think it's weird?" she asked quietly.
Shin blinked. "What?"
"That I want this," she said, barely above a whisper. "That I want you like this."
There was no hesitation in his answer. "No."
She breathed out softly, her arms tightening around him. "…Even though I'm your little sister?"
Shin was quiet for a beat. Then he gently cupped the side of her face and guided her to look at him.
"You're more than that to me," he said simply. "You always have been."
Ai's eyes welled, but she blinked the feeling away, smiling instead. "You say such dangerous things."
"And you dress like this," he retorted lightly, tugging her shirt off her shoulder again just to hear her squeak.
She laughed, the mood shifting warmer again. "Fine. We're both dangerous."
Shin leaned forward, nuzzling her cheek. "Then let's be dangerous together."
She kissed him again, slower this time, and they stayed like that—tangled in quiet affection, heat growing with every soft touch.
Shin's hand trailed lazily down Ai's back, fingertips brushing her spine through the thin fabric of her off-shoulder top. He paused just at the small of her back, where her skin peeked out.
"You're so small…" he murmured, almost to himself. "So soft…"
Ai blinked, still catching her breath from their last kiss. "Huh?"
He chuckled, running his palm along her side again, squeezing gently. "Seriously. You feel like a plush toy."
"I'm not a toy," she protested, cheeks puffing as she gave his chest a light slap.
He just grinned. "You kind of are. A clingy little plush who keeps climbing into my bed."
She narrowed her eyes. "Says the guy who always pulls me into his lap the moment I sit down."
"Can't help it," he said, squeezing her thighs gently. "You're warm. And you fit so perfectly right here."
Ai blushed furiously, especially when he gave her a playful bounce on his lap to emphasize the point. She squeaked, grabbing onto his shirt for balance, her eyes wide.
"Onii-Chan!" she hissed, flustered.
He looked up at her with a teasing glint in his eyes. "What? It's true. Your legs are tiny—look at this."
He ran a finger down her thigh, making her squirm. "Soft like pudding."
"I'm not pudding!"
"Strawberry pudding," he corrected with a smirk. "Sweet and pink and impossible to resist."
Ai groaned, burying her face in his chest. "You're the worst."
His hand slid up her back again, stroking softly. "You love it."
She lifted her head, meeting his gaze with a pout. "You always say I'm small, but look at you."
Her hands suddenly pressed flat against his chest—exploring. She slid them up slowly, dragging over his firm pecs and under the fabric of his loose shirt.
"…You're so big," she said, eyes trailing up his neck, then to his jaw. "And strong…"
Shin raised a brow, intrigued.
"And these…" She slipped her fingers down, grazing over the ridges of his abdomen. "Six-pack abs? Really?"
He exhaled through his nose, lips twitching. "You checking me out, Ai?"
"I live with you. I can't not notice," she muttered, fingers still roaming. "What kind of high school boy has abs like these?"
He leaned in close, voice dipping. "The kind who carries you to bed every night."
She turned red instantly. "Y-You—! You said that with a straight face!"
He laughed, enjoying the way her hands stilled on his stomach. "You really like them?"
"…Shut up."
Shin smirked, catching her wrist gently and guiding her hand to rest over the center of his abs. "Go on. Count them."
"I'm not doing that!"
"Why not?"
"Because you'll make fun of me!"
He kissed her nose. "You already look flustered. Might as well finish the experience."
Ai buried her face in his neck. "Stop being so unfair…"
"Unfair?" he echoed, brushing his lips against her ear. "You're sitting on my lap dressed like that, wiggling every time I tease you. And I'm the unfair one?"
She mumbled something incoherent, but it sounded suspiciously like "still your fault."
Shin chuckled and pulled her closer, his arms wrapping tight around her as he kissed the top of her head.
"…You're cute when you're shy," he whispered.
"I'm never shy."
"You're blushing so hard right now."
Ai lifted her head, puffing her cheeks again in defiance. "That's because you're ridiculously handsome. You have no idea how unfair that is."
He blinked.
Then gave her the smuggest smile she'd ever seen.
"So you do check me out."
She lightly bonked her forehead into his chest. "Ugh. I walked right into that one…"
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END OF CHAPTER : 43 : NIGHT SILENCE!
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