02 - Home Sweet Home

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♥ ♢ FRIEND, TOUHEI ♢♥

The automatic doors of the brightly lit convenience store slid open with a cheerful chime, a stark contrast to the quiet hum of my internal thoughts. The mission was simple: one carton of milk, one tub of premium, triple-chocolate fudge ice cream for Izuwa. A straightforward task that somehow felt like crossing a final checkpoint before re-entering my real life.

As I navigated the narrow aisles, my eyes scanning the freezer section, a familiar voice boomed from behind me.

"Takeshi? Is that you, man?"

I turned to see a wide grin plastered on the face of Touhei Ishikawa. We’d been inseparable in high school, partners in crime during our rebellious phase, which mostly consisted of trying to beat the final boss of every arcade game in town. Now, we were at different universities, our meetings relegated to chance encounters like this. He hadn't changed much; his hair was still an untamable mop, and his energy could power a small city.

"Touhei. It's been a while," I said, offering a small smile.

"No kidding! What are you doing in this part of town?" he asked, clapping me on the shoulder with enough force to make me stumble.

"Just grabbing a few things before heading home," I replied, my hand closing around the frosted lid of the ridiculously expensive ice cream. He had been to my family home years ago, a few times for study sessions, but that was a lifetime ago. A time before Mikuyi existed, before Izuwa and Hina moved in, and during a period when Ayumi was almost never home, already deep in the grueling life of a trainee.

"Speaking of which," Touhei’s eyes lit up with a fervent glow I knew all too well. "Dude, have you seen it? Mikuyi's latest music video! 'Celestial Dreamscape'! It dropped yesterday!"

I grabbed a carton of milk from the cooler. "Ah, yeah. I think I caught a glimpse of it," I said, aiming for nonchalance.

"A glimpse? Just a glimpse?!" He looked at me as if I'd just confessed to a crime. "Takeshi, you're missing out on a masterpiece! Ayumi-chan was… she was transcendent! A literal angel descended to bless us unworthy mortals!" He clutched his chest dramatically. "Her vocals in the bridge section? I almost ascended to a higher plane of existence."

I fought to keep my expression neutral. It was always like this. To him, and millions of others, Ayumi was a celestial being. To me, she was the girl who just texted me a cute emoji while demanding snacks.

"And don't even get me started on Izuwa-chan's wink at the 2:45 mark! So cool and playful! Or Hina-chan's elegance in that white dress… a man can dream, right?" He let out a dreamy sigh, completely lost in his fantasy of flirting with my step-sisters. "But Ayumi-chan… she’s on another level. The goddess."

"I see," was all I could manage. "So, you're still a big fan, then."

"A fan? Takeshi, I'm a disciple. My life's purpose is to support her."

I couldn't help but let a small sigh escape. "How's university, Touhei? Everything going well?" I asked, eager to change the subject.

He snapped out of his idol-induced trance. "Oh! Uh, yeah, it's just fine. Drowning in papers, you know how it is. Same old, same old."

"I get that." I started walking towards the counter. "Listen, I need to get going. Things to do."

"Yeah, of course," Touhei said, following me. "Hey, we should properly hang out soon. Like old times."

"Definitely," I agreed as I paid for the items. "I'll give you a call."

With a final wave, I left him there, likely to go home and re-watch 'Celestial Dreamscape' for the hundredth time. The short walk to my building was a familiar one. People often assume that the brother of a superstar must live in a mansion, but the reality was a bit more modern. The girls, with their combined income, had rented a sprawling, high-security condominium. It was their home, technically. I was just a freeloader, a live-in guardian they insisted on having, especially Ayumi, who claimed she'd be too lonely otherwise.

 ♥ ♢ ♥

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♥ ♢ BROTHER AND SISTERS  ♢♥ 

The elevator whisked me up to our floor. As I unlocked the front door, the scent of something savory and the faint sound of a video game explosion greeted me.

"He's back!" a cheerful voice called out.

Izuwa, dressed in an oversized hoodie and shorts, skidded into the hallway, her short purple hair slightly disheveled. Her eyes immediately locked onto the bag in my hand.

"The holy grail!" she exclaimed, snatching the bag and peering inside. "Yes! Triple-chocolate fudge! Onii-chan, you are the best!" She beamed, already peeling back the lid as she retreated to the living room couch.

I placed the milk in the fridge and was met by Hina, who was wiping her hands on an apron. Her long hair was tied back in a practical, yet still elegant, ponytail.

"Welcome home, Takeshi-kun. How was your day?" she asked, her calm presence a soothing balm after the chaos of the outside world.

"Just fine," I replied, shrugging off my jacket. "The campus is still buzzing about your new music video. They really love it."

From the couch, between spoonfuls of ice cream, Izuwa let out a triumphant smirk. "As predicted! I told them that zero-gravity battle concept would be a hit. It was totally based on the final boss from 'Galaxy Raiders VII'," she said with a proud, throaty laugh.

Suddenly, a flurry of motion came from the direction of the bathroom. Ayumi, with a fluffy white towel wrapped around her body and another one turbaned on her head, ran towards me and launched herself into a hug. The fresh, floral scent of her shampoo filled my senses.

"Onii-chan! Welcome home!" she chirped, squeezing me tightly. Then, she pulled back slightly, her nose twitching like a rabbit's. She leaned in, sniffing my shirt with exaggerated concentration. "Hmm? Why is there the smell of another lady on you?"

I blinked. "What are you talking about? Stop saying things that aren't true. That's slander," I said, deadpan. "It's your shampoo. You just rubbed it all over me."

She giggled, her superstar persona melting away to reveal the mischievous little sister underneath. "Hehe, maybe."

The long day, the encounter with Touhei, the weight of my double life—it all suddenly crashed down on me. I let out a deep sigh and slumped into one of the plush armchairs in the living room, closing my eyes. A moment later, I felt gentle fingers threading through my short hair. It was Ayumi, humming softly as she played with the strands at the nape of my neck.

"What's wrong?" she murmured.

"Just tired," I said, my voice muffled by the chair's backrest.

"Ayumi!" Hina's voice, now sharp with sisterly authority, cut through the calm. "Go get dressed! Stop disturbing your brother when he's tired and come help me with dinner."

Ayumi pouted, her hand freezing in my hair. "Aww, but Hina-chan..."

"Now."

With a dramatic, sad sigh, she gave my head a final pat and padded back towards her room. "Okay..."

The sounds of her retreating footsteps were replaced by the gentle clatter of plates and Hina’s humming from the kitchen. My sisters were home. The superstars had clocked out.

I pushed myself out of the chair, my body feeling heavy but my mind finally at ease. It was time for a bath.