At six in the morning, Makoto had just slipped out of the covers when a smooth arm reached out and pulled him back.
He turned his head and saw Ichika holding onto the blanket, showing only her flushed face and her soft, fair shoulder.
"You don't have to get up and make breakfast just yet," she murmured.
Her hands clutched the blanket tightly, as if afraid it would slip down.
Just a few hours ago, she had been bold and enthusiastic. But now that it had really happened, she had become thoroughly shy.
"How long should I wait?" Makoto knew she wanted to cuddle more. He slid back into bed and held her soft waist.
Ichika smiled bashfully, blissfully: "How about until eight?"
Makoto feigned surprise: "You still have two hours of energy left in you?"
He sat up as if preparing to launch into action.
Ichika hurriedly pushed him back down.
There was no way she could fight again.
She didn't even have the strength to sit up.
That thought made her realize she really needed to work out more. If her stamina was this poor, wouldn't she be totally unreliable in the future?
Makoto had only been teasing her.
Although she wasn't in top shape right now, she did usually exercise to maintain her figure for her acting career.
They cuddled under the blanket for a good while before Makoto finally got up.
"You've got nothing scheduled today, so you can rest longer. I'll wake you when breakfast's ready." He kissed her on the forehead as he dressed.
But she pointed at her lips, her cheeks still flushed. "Here too."
"You're way too cute."
Makoto obliged.
Ichika stayed wrapped in the covers, watching him walk to the door. Just as he was about to open it, she suddenly called out, "Makoto."
He turned back.
She gave him a shy but fiery smile. "I love you."
Makoto let go of the doorknob. "Now I suddenly don't feel like making breakfast anymore."
"Stop it, go already!"
Ichika giggled, watching him leave.
Buried in her blanket, her face lit up as she replayed the steamy, blush-worthy scenes from earlier. Her smile was more dangerous than any assault rifle.
Nino, this time… I win.
Even though Makoto hadn't told her the details of Nino's late-night visit, after living with her sister for so many years, she could guess what was on her mind.
Showing up in a guy's room in the middle of the night? If that's not a sneak attack, then what is?
But sorry, I am the real winner.
"Only a fool would fall in love with him."
Ichika recalled what Yukino had once said.
She picked up her phone, smiled, and tapped on Yukino's profile, sending a message:
[I want to be that fool.]
Satisfied, she put the phone down and closed her eyes.
She didn't feel any real discomfort—she could even walk around without her sisters noticing anything.
Most importantly, she didn't have to be on set today.
Knowing Nino's personality, once Makoto left for filming, she'd definitely show up under the pretense of "checking on the crew."
After all, she had just tried to sneak in last night.
If Ichika wasn't at the shoot, that would look like an opening in Nino's eyes.
"But you'd never guess—I already cut off your invasion route."
Ichika hummed to herself in satisfaction.
Big sisters are always stronger than their little sisters.
Since it was a rest day, the Nakano girls didn't get up until it was already bright outside.
"Good morning, Makoto."
"Good morning, Nino."
Nino rubbed her eyes as she headed to wash up—only to see Makoto wearing an apron.
Surprised, she asked, "You made breakfast?"
Miku peeked her head out while brushing her teeth.
With her cheeks puffed out and toothbrush in her mouth, she looked undeniably cute.
"Mhm, I accidentally got the bedsheets wet last night, so I figured I ought to apologize. Making breakfast seemed like the best way."
Makoto tactfully brought up the incident.
Nino instantly went quiet, her cheeks flushed with guilt.
Itsuki, who was coming in behind, asked curiously, "How did the bedsheets get wet?"
Miku was also curious, though she couldn't speak while brushing.
Makoto explained the story he and Nino had agreed upon in advance.
Itsuki laughed it off. "Oh, so you like eating in bed too? It's not a big deal—you didn't need to apologize."
Miku nodded in agreement and went back to finish brushing her teeth.
"Breakfast still needs to be made. I'm good at this anyway, and I woke up early, so I figured I'd put my time to use."
Makoto gave Nino a subtle look, reassuring her that everything was fine.
Nino smiled back, grateful and slightly shy, and walked off with a spring in her step.
Ichika was the last one to wake up.
Her walk looked completely normal—nothing out of place.
As for the stained bedsheets, she'd cleaned those up herself.
In that moment, she appreciated her habit of not tidying her room, because her sisters knew this and wouldn't think of entering.
That gave her time and space to "destroy the evidence."
"Is Ichika in a really good mood today?" Itsuki asked Nino while Ichika went to freshen up.
Still half-asleep, Miku nodded. "She was humming just now."
"Maybe she's happy because filming's almost over?" Yotsuba offered a logical guess.
But Nino wasn't convinced.
For some reason, she had a bad feeling.
It didn't make sense. She'd stayed up drinking coffee just to block Ichika. There was no way she could've snuck out to find Makoto.
Besides, she left very late. Ichika should've still been asleep at that time.
Yet, that bright smile on Ichika's face made her uneasy.
That unease lingered all the way through breakfast.
The moment Makoto sat down, Ichika swooped in and sat right beside him.
So swift and smooth that the other four girls froze in surprise.
"Stop staring, let's eat, everyone. Makoto's cooking skills are just as good as Nino's, you know."
Ichika smiled as she spoke, picking up a sandwich first.
Her words and demeanor practically screamed "eldest daughter of the Nakano household."
Aside from Yotsuba muttering, "Why does Ichika feel kinda weird today?"
No one else said anything—they quietly began eating.
Nino kept her head down, restless and anxious, to the point where she couldn't even enjoy the delicious breakfast.
Just then, she noticed her phone buzz.
She picked it up—it was a message from Ichika.
Nino instinctively glanced at Ichika sitting next to Makoto, but Ichika didn't even look her way, just continued enjoying her food.
With a frown, Nino tapped open the message. The moment her eyes landed on it, her expression froze.
[Losers should sit at the kids' table.]
What did that mean?
Was Ichika mocking her for being a loser?
That in Ichika's eyes, she was just a child, not even worthy of standing on the same level?
Nino let out a bitter laugh.
Ichika, you might not know—I've already confessed to Makoto!
Now that she had clarified her feelings, she had no weaknesses left.
Calmly putting away her phone, she looked up and smiled at Makoto: "You've got filming this afternoon, right? I'll go with you."
She even came up with a reason on the spot: "We're going to join the club eventually anyway, so it's a good time to start getting familiar with things."
"I want to go too!" Yotsuba mumbled around her rice ball.
Miku hesitated, then spoke up to Makoto as well: "I want to go too."
Naturally, Makoto agreed.
Nino smiled and turned her gaze to Ichika.
Her message was clear: I've made my move, sister—how will you respond?
But Ichika simply smiled softly. "I think I'll stay home. It's a rare day off—I should take it easy and be lazy."
She picked up a rice ball and held it up to Makoto's mouth. "Say ah~"
Makoto took a bite.
"The Final Whisper."
Nino's smile froze.
Miku and Yotsuba sat with their mouths open in shock.
Itsuki's eyelid twitched furiously.
That kind of natural, intimate feeding gesture…
Something was definitely off.
Very, very off!
Nino locked eyes with Itsuki—both felt a wave of crisis rising in their hearts.
Now it was Ichika's turn to smile triumphantly.
Nino, whatever move you make, big sis will handle it all.
There's a saying: when you're at a disadvantage, sometimes it's best to go straight for armor-piercing.
That was a move Ichika had learned from Yukino.
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