Aiko, perched right beside Shin and feeding Asahi bite-sized portions of omelet like a doting mother, looked radiant in the borrowed clothes. Her soft brown hair still held faint dampness from the shower, giving her a glow, and her eyes shone with lazy satisfaction. Every few spoonfuls she gave Asahi were followed by little giggles and playful coos.
Asahi, now seated on her lap and dressed like a fashionable plushie, opened his mouth obediently, chewing with a grin. His cheeks were slightly flushed, not just from the heat of the room, but from the sheer affection pouring in from all directions.
"Say aah~," Aiko sang sweetly, lifting another piece of omelet to his lips.
Asahi happily obliged. Then, just as she brought another piece toward him, Aiko tilted her head, mischief curling at the corners of her lips.
"Hey, A-chan…" she said, voice slow and syrupy.
Asahi blinked up at her. "Hmm?"
"Do I..." Aiko leaned in slightly, nose brushing against his bangs, "... Smell like him too?"
Asahi's brows furrowed, mouth still full.
"I mean, I should smell like him the most right now," Aiko continued innocently, "After all… we showered together this morning."
Her tone was light, but behind it lay a smug glow only Shin could decode. After the way they had tangled in the bath—and the kisses, the heat, the slow movements in the kitchen afterward—her body had practically absorbed Shin. She radiated him like perfume.
Asahi blinked. Then, in the way only he could, leaned forward and took a long, dramatic sniff at Aiko's collarbone.
His eyes sparkled. "You smell like Onii-Chan everywhere! Like… a lot!" He beamed. "You're practically glowing with him!"
Yuki, who had just lifted his glass of milk to sip, immediately choked and sputtered, face turning crimson. He set the glass down with a clink, ears burning furiously. "D-Don't say stuff like that out loud, idiot…"
Rika giggled loudly behind her hand. "Pfft… glowing? What are you, radioactive?"
Aiko let out a high-pitched squeal and spun toward Shin, smacking her palm on the table. "Did you hear that, Taa-Kun?! He said I'm practically radiating your smell!"
Shin leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, an amused smirk on his lips. "Guess that makes us married now, huh?"
"Exactly!" Aiko pointed at him triumphantly, then clutched Asahi against her chest again with exaggerated delight. "Your little brother can smell the truth!"
Ai, sitting on Shin's other side now and wearing his hoodie proudly, laughed softly and wrapped her free arm around his, linking them tightly. Her bare thigh brushed his under the table, and she leaned in with a little hum. "Then I want a proper wedding after breakfast," she whispered teasingly.
"Wedding plans after pancakes," Shin deadpanned, squeezing her hand.
Rika, still chewing a piece of fruit, suddenly turned toward Asahi with a sparkle in her eye. "Ne, Asahi-kun…" she called across the table, "Do I smell like Shin too?"
Asahi tilted his head, seriously considering it. He wiggled out of Aiko's hold, stood on his seat, and crawled across the table carefully (ignoring the protests) until he got close enough to lean toward Rika. With intense focus, he took a big sniff around her neck.
"Hmmm… faintly," he said. "But it's there!"
Rika raised an eyebrow, amused. "Really?"
He nodded solemnly, then turned to Yuki—who was seated beside her, visibly tensing.
"And Yuki-Nii?" Asahi said brightly, scooting over. He gave a sniff near Yuki's sleeve, then up at his collar.
"You smell like Onii-Chan too!"
Yuki's fork froze halfway to his mouth. "H-Huh?!"
"Yep!" Asahi nodded, totally serious. "It's strong, like he hugged you a lot. Or maybe you borrowed his shirt too?"
Yuki's blush deepened furiously. "I-I did not!"
Rika laughed so hard she nearly dropped her glass. Aiko and Ai were wheezing in delight. Shin? He just raised an eyebrow and gave Yuki the most teasing smirk imaginable.
Yuki shoved his chair back slightly, face completely red. "Y-You guys are insane…"
Asahi wasn't done though. His eyes sparkled with innocent confusion as he looked around the table.
"Wait…" he said, turning toward Shin again, eyes wide with discovery. "Why does everyone smell like Onii-Chan? Are you all stealing his clothes when he's not looking?"
Aiko collapsed forward on the table, laughing uncontrollably. Ai was clutching Shin's arm, biting her lip to keep from howling. Rika gasped for air between giggles, and even Yuki, despite his embarrassment, couldn't help but snort.
Shin, for his part, simply leaned his cheek into his hand and grinned. "No one's stealing. We're just… really close."
Asahi tilted his head. "That close?"
"Mhm."
Yuki, crimson-faced, buried his head in his arms. "He's... He's like Son Goku or something. Just sniffing everyone."
Asahi leaned across the table again and sniffed at Shin this time—deeply, dramatically. After a second, he blinked and looked baffled.
"Whoa…"
"What?" Ai asked, trying to contain her laughter.
Asahi pointed at Shin, awe in his eyes. "He smells like everyone!"
The room fell silent for a heartbeat before Ai burst out laughing again, leaning into Shin's shoulder with a smirk. "Well, isn't that poetic…"
"What do you mean he smells like everyone?" Rika chuckled, dabbing her eyes.
Asahi shrugged. "Like… bits of Ai-Onee-Chan, Aiko-Onee-Chan, Yuki-Nii, and even Rika-Onee-Chan! All mixed together. Like a family candle!"
"A what?" Yuki asked, clearly trying not to lose it again.
"A family candle!" Asahi repeated, smiling brightly. "All the smells together."
"Oh god," Aiko wheezed, wiping tears from her eyes. "I'm gonna die."
But Asahi wasn't done.
He suddenly turned to Rika, tilted his head, and leaned toward her chest, sniffing again curiously.
"Rika-Onee-Chan," he said with adorable confusion, "you smell like Yuki-Nii… mostly around here." He tapped her chest.
Rika's jaw dropped.
Yuki dropped his spoon.
"What the hell, Asahi?!" Yuki barked, face redder than ever.
Rika coughed into her sleeve, face stunned. "Wh-What do you mean there?!"
Asahi blinked innocently. "I dunno. Just smells stronger around your chest. Like his shampoo. Did you hug or something?"
The table exploded again. Ai doubled over, holding her stomach. Aiko fell onto Shin's shoulder, howling. Shin tried to keep his composure but was visibly shaking from laughter.
Yuki, trembling, slammed his forehead on the table. "I'm never showing my face in this house again…"
"You're blushing so hard, Yuki-Nii!" Asahi giggled.
Rika cleared her throat, trying to save face. "I—I spilled some of his tea on my shirt yesterday, that's probably it."
Yuki glared sideways. "That's a lie and you know it…"
"You wanna test it, sniff it yourself?" Rika teased with a sly smirk.
Yuki recoiled like she'd offered him a live wire.
Ai exhaled deeply, wiping her eyes. "Breakfast's officially been turned into chaos."
Shin leaned back, arms behind his head, satisfied. "Welcome to family life."
Aiko kissed his cheek sweetly. "I think I love it more every day."
"Okay," Shin finally said, standing with a stretch. "That's enough of the nose investigation squad."
Asahi pouted. "But I'm good at smelling!"
"Yes, you are," Aiko beamed, pulling him into her arms again and kissing his cheek. "Too good, maybe."
"Now I'm scared," Yuki muttered.
Ai leaned closer to Shin and whispered with mock sternness, "I think our son's going to grow up to be worse than you."
"I'm proud," Shin said.
Ai slapped his arm lightly.
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END OF CHAPTER : 194 : SMELL OF FAMILY!
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