"Ahem…"
"Utaha, do you still remember the content from health class? About… unconscious dreams, and all that? This is what's called a wet dream."
"It's a normal physiological phenomenon and an important sign of puberty. Got it?"
Kasumigaoka Touji coughed awkwardly, trying to sound calm and composed as he gave his totally legitimate biological explanation.
"...Otouto-kun, are you saying you had a wet dream last night?" Kasumigaoka Utaha arched an eyebrow, her tone mixed with genuine curiosity and playful teasing.
"That's right," he replied plainly. Since he was already caught in 4K, he figured he might as well own up to it.
But then—
"I don't believe it!"
Utaha's abrupt declaration came like a thunderclap, so sudden it left Touji frozen in place.
Seriously!?
Why wouldn't she believe it!? Was this her idea of fun!?
"Unless Otouto-kun can prove it to me," Utaha smirked devilishly, arms folded beneath her chest, which only made her already impressive figure more pronounced.
Touji's eyes involuntarily glanced down, then quickly shot up. He raised his hand and pinched her chin lightly.
"How am I supposed to prove something like that? You wanna fight, you chaos gremlin?"
"Touji, don't go putting your hands all over your onee-san like that," she pouted, swatting his hand away with a fake huff.
"In any case…"
Touji narrowed his eyes and leaned in slightly. "This whole thing stays between us. If you tell anyone—hmph hmph."
"Ara~ Otouto-kun is learning the art of threats! I wonder where you picked that up from… or maybe it's just natural talent?"
Utaha dramatically threw herself onto the bed, hands pressed beneath her like a noble lady being wronged. "Waaah~ I'm being threatened by my Otouto-kun~! Somebody save me~!"
Touji deadpanned. "Okay, okay, that's enough improv theater for one morning."
"You flatter me," Utaha said, flipping her hair like an actress post-performance. "But I still haven't debuted yet."
"Modesty doesn't suit you at all, you know."
After a brief, theatrical exchange of bickering and snarky comments, Touji retrieved the offending underwear and hurled it back under the bed like it never happened. He would handle laundry sabotage duty tomorrow, once their parents had safely departed for Hokkaido.
Just then, their mother's voice echoed from downstairs.
"Breakfast is ready~!"
The siblings glanced at each other, composed their expressions, and descended.
They greeted their parents with the usual "Good morning" before splitting off to wash up. Touji quickly cleaned his hands and returned to the dining table.
"Oh? Salmon chazuke this morning?" he remarked, his eyes lighting up with genuine joy.
The rice shimmered in the dashi broth, topped with fragrant nori, finely chopped scallions, toasted sesame seeds, and golden flakes of grilled salmon. Just the smell was enough to lift his spirits.
"It's been a while, hasn't it? I thought it would be a nice change," Kasumigaoka Airi replied, smiling warmly.
"Mm, good call."
When Utaha arrived and sat down, Touji couldn't help but notice the subtle glances their parents exchanged. Not judgmental, just… curious.
Still, no questions were asked. The meal continued peacefully, but the air had a peculiar weight to it.
After clearing their respective bowls and chopsticks, Kasumigaoka Touji and Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't head back to their rooms as they usually did. Nor did they sprawl on the living room sofa with light novels in hand. Instead, for once, they took the initiative.
"Mom, is there anything we can help with today?" Touji asked sincerely.
Utaha nodded in agreement. "You must have a lot to prepare before leaving for Hokkaido tomorrow, right?"
Kasumigaoka Airi blinked in surprise at the rare show of responsibility from her children, then smiled warmly. "Hmm… if you insist, you two can help clean the house."
"I want to do a proper clean-up before we go."
"Roger that!" Touji replied.
Airi quickly assigned them their first task. "Start from the second floor. Touji, you and Utaha can go take down the curtains in your rooms and the study."
The siblings exchanged glances and gave a simultaneous, "Okay."
Upstairs, Kasumigaoka Touji stacked two stools together with a slightly worried expression. "Utaha-san, hold it steady for me. I'll climb up and get the curtains."
"Okay~ Just don't fall, baka otouto," she teased with a smirk, gripping the top stool with both hands.
Touji huffed softly and ascended the wobbly makeshift ladder. Within minutes, he'd taken down all the curtains and even removed the hooks. He carried them downstairs, stretching a little afterward. The next assignments: window cleaning and wiping furniture.
While Touji was wiping down his desk, Utaha glanced sideways and said, "Hey... why don't you just wash that thing already?"
"Huh?" he blinked, confused.
"That underwear. You know, that one. It's still under the bed, isn't it? It's kinda gross leaving it there…"
Touji narrowed his eyes into a glare. "Stare—"
"What? I'm serious." She shrugged nonchalantly. "Didn't you just say last night that it was a perfectly normal part of adolescence? You sounded so confident too~"
"…Tch. Fine. You help me take it out then."
"What? You still need help for that?" she scoffed, clearly amused.
"Stare—"
"Geez, fine! Who told me to be such a kind and dependable onee-san?" Utaha sighed in dramatic resignation. "You owe me for this, Touji-kun."
She put down the rag, knelt by the bed, and bent over to reach underneath.
"Jeez, why'd you throw it so far back this time!?" she grumbled, half her body sliding under. Her rear wriggled lightly as she tried to grab it.
The scene… was dangerous.
Touji's eyes twitched. That pose. That figure. That temptation. He instinctively wanted to pat it—just a light smack for fun—but stopped himself with a cough. She was doing him a favor right now, after all.
"…It's because last time you found it too easily," he mumbled, crossing his arms with a sigh.
Kasumigaoka Utaha emerged from under the bed, triumphantly holding the offending item between two fingers like it was toxic waste. She shot him a look of mock disdain, dusted off her knees, and sauntered out of the room.
When she returned, however, there was a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
"Oh, by the way—Mom told me, 'Touji's finally grown up~.'"
"Bang—!"
That was the sound of Kasumigaoka Touji's head hitting the desk as he collapsed onto it in despair.
Public humiliation. Again.
Death would be preferable to this.
…
T/N:
How are you finding this book so far?