After Machida-san left in her little red Honda, Kasumigaoka Touji and Kasumigaoka Utaha returned to the quiet warmth of their house. The earlier buzz of chaotic teasing and awkward tension had faded, replaced now by a more mellow calm.
After all, they weren't hormone-addled beasts, no matter what that meddlesome editor seemed to think. And besides, they had all the time in the world. There was no need to rush.
Back in the living room, Utaha tilted her head toward Touji with a casual grace. "Otouto-kun, did you finish your 'Fantasy Demon Blade Chronicle' yet?"
"Yeah, just wrapped it up," Touji replied, stretching his back as he spoke.
"Then let's swap. I've already finished 'Silver Season'."
"Roger that."
Touji stood up and jogged upstairs to grab his copy, returning moments later with the trade. They sank into their usual spots—Utaha lounging on the bean bag chair like a queen, and Touji occupying the gaming chair with relaxed precision.
As he flipped open the cover of Silver Season, Touji glanced her way. "By the way... have you even touched your spring break homework?"
Utaha froze for a beat, then sighed.
"Haven't written a single word. Seriously, I'm so jealous of you, Touji-kun. Must be nice having zero assignments."
Toyosaki Private Academy, with its relentless college prep curriculum, didn't spare second-years like her. Even on break, they were buried under a mountain of homework. Meanwhile, first-years like Touji got to roam free.
"Heh, weren't you the one mocking me last year while I was cramming at the last second?" Touji smirked, his voice full of righteous vindication.
"Touji-kun~ come help your precious onee-san," Utaha whined as she slithered up from the bean bag and made her way behind him. Her hands found his shoulders, fingers working in what she hoped was a persuasive massage.
"Me? Help you? You do remember I'm a year below you, right?" he said incredulously, eyebrows raised.
"That's fine~ You can still help with the essay sections and brainstorming. C'mon, be a good kouhai." Her tone was sweet enough to give someone cavities.
"You've got guts," Touji muttered, leaning back and giving her a thumbs-up. "But I'm not helping. Did you forget how you treated me when I asked you for help last year?"
Utaha blinked, recalling a certain cold shoulder and a mountain of ignored texts.
"Let's not dwell on the past, Touji-kun~ That was then, this is now," she cooed, redoubling her massage efforts.
"I slaved through that homework while you slept on my bed! Don't think I've forgotten."
"Accompanying you in spirit counts for something, right?" she said innocently.
"Not when you're drooling on my pillow."
"Ehehe~"
There was a small silence.
Then—
"...So, what if your charming onee-san lets you take some liberties~? Would that convince you?"
Her voice dropped to a sultry whisper near his ear. The warmth of her breath against his skin made him flinch.
Touji shuddered. Not from fear—but from something far more dangerous.
Seeing her Otouto-kun react so earnestly, Utaha smirked. She drew even closer and deliberately exhaled another warm puff of air against his ear.
"H-Hey, knock it off..." Touji flinched and leaned away, his neck instinctively shrinking like a startled turtle. He turned his head and found her face so close—so dangerously close.
The faint scent of her shampoo lingered in the air between them.
Despite everything, he kept his cool. "Even if I don't help you with your homework, I'm still going to take liberties with you!"
"Baka! You want to eat asphalt or something?!"
The gentle massage she'd been giving his shoulders suddenly turned into an iron grip. One hand locked tightly around his neck while the other slid brazenly down his collar, pinching a sensitive spot without warning.
"...?!" Touji's eyes widened.
What kind of underground doujin moves were these?!
Just what kind of questionable things had she been watching on her own time!?
Panicking, Touji tried to pry her hands away while Utaha threatened him, her voice ice cold:
"Touji-kun, are you going to help or not? This is your final chance to reconsider."
"I respond to kindness—not brute force!"
"Liar! You don't even respond to kindness!"
"Then feed the kindness into my mouth!"
"...Eh?"
Utaha blinked, clearly caught off guard.
Touji took the opportunity. He broke free from her grasp, straightened his disheveled collar, and sighed. "My poor shirt... this thing's gonna be stretched out."
"I'll buy you a new one," Utaha said softly, her tone unusually subdued.
She had clearly realized she'd missed her moment.
Touji waved her offer off. "No need."
Then his eyes narrowed playfully as he looked at her. Her face flushed, Utaha suddenly crossed her arms and turned away shyly.
"M-Mom and Dad just left... and already, you're bullying your poor older sister? What kind of beast are you, Touji-kun?"
Drama mode: activated.
Touji gave her a deadpan look. "...You call getting choked and pinched just because I wouldn't help with homework me bullying you?"
Utaha tilted her head innocently. "Well, it felt like I was about to be bullied."
"Your instincts are surprisingly accurate."
Without another word, Touji stepped forward, turned her around, and gave her two light swats on the backside.
Smack!Smack!
"W-Wrong or not?" he asked calmly.
"Y-You...!"
Utaha yelped and jumped away like a startled bunny, her hands flying behind her to protect her bottom.
She glared over her shoulder, biting her lower lip ever so slightly. Her eyes shimmered with a mix of shock, embarrassment, and something harder to define.
"Touji-kun... do you even understand what kind of behavior this is?!"
"Absolutely. It's insubordination. Mutiny. Rebellion. And you know what? I welcome it."
He stood tall, arms crossed, as if waiting for applause.
"Baka..." she muttered, cheeks puffed.
"You should be thanking me. That little scolding just motivated me more!"
Touji rubbed his hands together like a villain scheming for his next move.
Utaha's eyes narrowed.
"What now?" she asked, suspicious.
Touji flashed a devilish smile. "An eye for an eye. A pinch for a swat. If you tease me, I'll tease you back. Fair game, right?"
Utaha's expression twitched.
"...You really are the worst, you know that?"
And so, the great Kasumigaoka Utaha, the esteemed novelist and senpai, was cleanly and completely sent rounding third base...
Courtesy of one wickedly smug little brother.