The living room was warm and lazy that evening. The TV hummed quietly in the background, half-forgotten. A plate of snacks sat open on the table. Ai was scrolling on her phone, her legs stretched out like she owned the place. Rika was reading a book with a calm expression, flipping the pages slowly. Yuki had one earbud in, eyes half-closed as though he was about to drift off any second. Aiko had her tablet balanced on her knees, doodling with a grin that came and went depending on what she was sketching.
The front door clicked, and Shin walked in. He stretched his arms above his head, then let out a long sigh before dropping himself at the exact center of the sofa.
"Phew… alright. Scoot over, all of you. I want some space here."
Yuki cracked one eye open, pulling an earbud out. "You literally sat in the middle. How's that more space?"
"Because you're all about to come to me anyway."
Ai glanced up from her phone. "Cocky."
Aiko giggled and nudged her tablet aside. "He's not wrong, though."
Rika closed her book gently, giving a small smile. "…He's right."
Just like magnets, they gravitated toward him. Yuki leaned against his right shoulder with a sigh that was half-annoyed, half-content. Ai slid down so her head rested lightly on his lap. Aiko scooted over beside Ai, resting her chin on the armrest. Even Rika, composed as ever, shifted closer, her hands folded neatly on her knees.
Ai tilted her head. "See? You're like gravity or something."
"I'll take that," Shin smirked.
"You're heavy, though," Yuki muttered. "If you pull one more of us in, the couch is gonna break."
"Worth it."
Aiko narrowed her eyes, noticing the glint in his. "You've got that look, Taa-kun. What's on your mind?"
He paused, glancing at each of them in turn before exhaling slowly. "You know… I've been turning something over in my head. For a long time, actually. Through school, through all the chaos we went through… even through graduation."
"Sounds serious," Ai said, lowering her phone.
Rika tilted her head. "It does…"
"Just spit it out," Yuki cut in. "You're stalling."
Shin leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His voice was steadier now, less casual. "Fine. But don't jump on me until I finish, alright?"
The girls exchanged a glance, then nodded.
Shin drew in a breath. "…I want to marry you. All of you."
The room went still.
Ai nearly choked on her own breath. "Wha—what?!"
Yuki's eyes flew wide. "…You're insane."
Aiko blinked, then broke into a grin. "Wait. You're not joking?"
"Not joking," Shin said firmly. "Not even a little."
Rika froze mid-breath, her book forgotten on the table. Her cheeks turned scarlet as she whispered, "Marriage…?"
Ai sat up, gripping her phone like a lifeline. "Onii-chan, are you even listening to yourself? Me and you are— we're technically siblings! Legally it's not even allowed!"
Shin turned to her, gaze sharp but tender. "Ai. Marriage isn't just paperwork. It's a promise. It's me standing here saying I don't want to spend a single day without you by my side. Love is what makes it real. Not the documents. Not the rules written by people who don't even know us."
Her lips trembled, eyes shining. "You… you always say things like that…"
"You really dropped that on us out of nowhere," Yuki muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, his voice shaky. "No plan, no lead-up, just—boom. Idiot."
"I've been planning it in my head for years," Shin said. "Every time I woke up with one of you beside me, every time we laughed, fought, cried… I knew I wanted this. I want you to know it's not temporary. It's forever. I don't care if it's crazy, or messy, or if the world says no. I want you. All of you."
Aiko sniffled suddenly, swiping her sleeve across her eyes. "Damn it, Taa-kun… You had to go and make it sound like a love drama."
"Not drama. Just truth," he answered softly.
Yuki let out a shaky laugh, muttering, "…I hate you sometimes."
"But you love me more."
Yuki turned his face away, but his ears were red. "…Yeah. I do."
"Then say it," Shin pressed. "Do you want this with me?"
Yuki hesitated, then finally nodded, voice thick. "…I do. Of course I do. Idiot."
Aiko laughed through her tears. "I don't even need to think about it. You already know my answer. Yes. A hundred times yes. You're mine, and I'm yours. Always."
Shin smiled faintly. "That's two."
Ai hugged her knees, whispering, "This is insane… it's insane…"
Shin cupped her cheek gently, tilting her face up to his. "So is the way you look at me every morning. So is the way you call my name when you're scared, or when you're happy. Love isn't supposed to be neat, Ai. It's supposed to be real. And what we have is more real than anything else in my life. So tell me—will you let some stranger's law decide if what we feel is valid? Or will you decide with me?"
Tears spilled down her face. "…You… you're impossible, Onii-chan."
"So?" he whispered.
She threw herself against him, face buried in his chest. "So… yes! Of course yes! I hate you but yes!"
He laughed softly, hugging her tight. "That's three."
Rika had been silent the whole time, staring at her lap, her cheeks warm. Finally, she whispered, "…Why me?"
Shin turned to her instantly. "Because I love you. You think I didn't notice the way your voice changes when you say my name? You've been mine long before I ever said the words out loud. I want you with me. Always."
Rika covered her face with both hands. "…You're cruel… saying all that… in front of everyone…"
"Because it's the truth," he said gently. "So what's your answer?"
There was a long pause. Then she lowered her hands, cheeks blazing but eyes shimmering. "…Yes. If it's you, then yes."
He reached out, clasping her hand and pulling her closer with a smile. "That's four."
Yuki sniffled, trying to hide it with a scoff. "You really had to collect us like Pokémon, huh?"
Aiko burst out laughing through her tears. "Better than that. He collected our hearts."
"That's so cheesy!" Ai groaned, though she was smiling through the tears streaking her cheeks.
"…But it's true," Rika murmured.
Shin looked at them, his voice steady, eyes burning with intensity. "Listen to me. I've thought about this every night. I've imagined us in every possible future. I don't want one where you're not with me. I don't want just a few years, or some temporary thing. I want decades. I want to grow old sitting like this, with you all piled around me, bickering and teasing and loving me. That's what I want my life to be. So yeah, it's selfish. But I don't care. I want it anyway. I want you. All of you. Forever."
The silence that followed was heavy and fragile, filled with nothing but the sound of their breathing. Ai sniffled. Yuki muttered a curse under his breath. Aiko let out a wet laugh that broke into fresh tears. Rika covered her face again. But none of them pulled away. Instead, they pressed closer, clinging to him like he was the center of their world—because he was.
Shin let out a faint grin under the weight of it all. "…So, I guess this means I need to buy four rings, huh?"
Aiko snorted. "Good luck affording that, Taa-kun."
"You'll buy them. No excuses," Yuki added immediately.
"They better be pretty, Onii-chan," Ai said, narrowing her tear-bright eyes. "Or I'll reject it!"
"…Don't make them too flashy," Rika whispered, cheeks still pink.
Shin chuckled, leaning back with all four of them wrapped around him. "Alright, alright. Rings it is."
They all laughed then—messy, teary, but together. The night stretched on with no more words needed, just warmth, closeness, and the unshakable promise that Shin had finally spoken into existence.
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END OF CHAPTER 224: PROPOSAL!
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