The dining room was quiet now.
Ai sat at the edge of the table, swinging her legs slowly under the chair, the plate of pancakes she had made for herself sitting untouched in front of her. The smell of syrup and warm batter filled the space—but it wasn't the same without Shin there.
She sighed, her cheek resting on her palm, puffing out her cheeks in a dramatic pout.
"Hmph. Onii-chan didn't even ask if I had eaten..." she muttered aloud to no one. "How mean…"
Her eyes drifted to the chair across from her, the one Shin always sat in. The cushion was still slightly pressed down from when he sat there just a few minutes ago, laughing at her, teasing her, giving her those warm, ticklish cheek kisses…
Her pout slowly melted into a small smile.
"Since last night, he's been sooo relentless…" she whispered, brushing her fingers along her jaw and up to her ear. "Kisses here… and here… and here…" she giggled, touching her cheek with both hands. "He even nibbled..."
Her face turned a little red, but she hugged herself, smiling brightly. "Ahh, Onii-chan's so unfair! He gets to go to school all cool and handsome while I sit here daydreaming like a lovesick puppy."
She looked down at her plate, then up at the ceiling with another sigh. "Honestly… this is when I want him the most. Just right here. Hugging me from behind like he always does…"
Her fingers traced little circles on the table as her mind wandered deeper into that thought—his arms around her waist, the warmth of his breath near her ear, the way he laughed gently when she got flustered…
Then she caught herself, sitting up straight with an embarrassed huff.
"No, no, no! I can't just sit here like some lost girlfriend in a drama!" She puffed her cheeks again. "But maybe just five more minutes of thinking about him…"
She leaned forward and whispered to her pancake, "Onii-chan, you better send me a photo of Yuki soon… or I'm stealing your sandwich and your hoodie."
With a giggle, she finally picked up her fork and took a bite. Her mood lightened, but that longing in her chest stayed—a soft reminder of how much she loved her Onii-chan, and how much she'd be waiting for him to come home again.
Ai scooped another bite of pancake into her mouth, chewing slowly as she stared at nothing in particular. The syrup was sweet, but her thoughts were sweeter—filled with memories of the night before.
Her fingers paused near her lips, eyes softening. "He really surprised me yesterday…"
She giggled softly to herself, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Onii-chan always cuddles me, always kisses my cheek like I'm his little princess… but last night felt… different."
Her cheeks warmed at the thought. It wasn't just the usual teasing or snuggles. Last night, there was a moment—a second where Shin had been a bit bolder than usual. More touchy. More… daring.
And yet, it didn't scare her. It didn't feel wrong. Her heart had raced, her face had flushed, but through it all, she felt only joy.
"I mean… he's seen me without clothes so many times. Bath times, laundry days… he never made a big deal out of it. He was always just Onii-chan. But yesterday…"
Her voice trailed off as her fingers gently touched her chest, the memory of his hand lingering there like a fading warmth.
"It was new," she whispered, a little blush rising to her face. "Unexpected… but it made me feel so special."
She kicked her feet again under the table, this time with a bit more energy, her smile blooming. "It means he really does care about me, right? Not just as someone who lives with him… but as me. Ai."
Then she let out a soft sigh and tilted her head toward the ceiling, hugging herself with a dreamy grin.
"I love you, Onii-chan… more than pancakes. More than bubble tea. Even more than that cute limited edition plushie I want."
With that declaration to the quiet room, she took another bite, this time humming happily.
---
The morning sun filtered through the school gates, casting long shadows across the pavement. It was early—earlier than usual—but Yuki was already there, standing alone beneath the cherry blossom tree just outside the entrance. The petals fluttered gently around him, some catching in his soft, honey-colored hair as he stared at nothing in particular.
His bag hung loosely from one shoulder, and his fingers played absently with the strap. He was quiet, unmoving, his expression strangely serene—like his thoughts were far, far away.
Because they were.
He kept replaying it in his mind—the messages from last night.
That photo.
The way Shin had looked.
Disheveled, smug, kind of stupid, but also... heartbreakingly handsome.
And the messages that followed...
"Goodnight for real this time. Don't dream about me too much, kiddo."
Yuki clutched his bag tighter. His heart gave the same stupid lurch it had last night.
Was he really falling for him?
Was this crush?
Was this... like-like?
His cheeks puffed slightly, a tiny pout forming as he chewed on the thought. His heart was being so stupid lately. Every time he thought about Shin's grin or voice or the way he looked at him with those eyes, it felt like his stomach was doing somersaults.
He didn't notice the footsteps approaching behind him.
"Yo."
The voice jolted him.
He spun around, wide-eyed.
Shin stood there, hands in his pockets, tie loose as always, blazer slung casually over one shoulder. His dark hair was a little messier than usual, and his smile—half-lazy, half-charming—made Yuki's breath hitch.
"W-wha—?"
"You waiting for someone?" Shin tilted his head, smirk growing. "Or were you just staring at cherry blossoms like an anime heroine?"
Yuki's ears went bright red.
"I—I was just passing by!" he snapped, turning sharply on his heel and storming toward the school entrance. "Don't flatter yourself!"
Shin chuckled, watching him go. "So you were waiting."
"I wasn't!!"
He jogged a little to catch up, falling into step beside the smaller boy.
"Could've just said 'good morning,' y'know," Shin said casually, eyes flicking sideways. "But nah, let's go with dramatic getaway."
"Shut up."
"Cute."
"I said shut up!!"
Shin laughed again, not mocking—just... happy. Genuinely happy to see him again.
Yuki's pout deepened, but he didn't push him away. He just huffed and kept walking, arms crossed, cheeks stubbornly pink. Shin stayed close, not saying much now, just occasionally glancing down at him with something warm behind his eyes.
Yuki didn't know what to say.
He didn't even know what he was feeling exactly.
All he knew was... he'd waited.
And Shin came.
And somehow, that made him feel more seen than anything else.
The morning bell rang faintly in the distance.
They walked together in silence, the kind that was soft instead of awkward. Like maybe—just maybe—they were becoming something.
Even if neither of them had the words for it yet.
---
END OF CHAPTER : 12 : At School
---