By the time Suki got home, his face still burned like the sun. He flopped onto the living room floor with a dramatic groan, hugging his schoolbag to his chest.
"Something happened," Hana said instantly from the couch.
Suki yelped, nearly hitting his head on the table. "Wh-what are you talking about?!"
Emi appeared from the kitchen with a glass of juice, her smirk sharp. "You only collapse like that when it's about Ryuzí."
"I-It's not!" Suki sputtered, cheeks flaming.
Rika skipped down the hall, eyes wide with excitement. "Ooooh, did he confess back?!"
Suki's face went nuclear. "WHAT?! N-no! Of course not!"
"Ahhh, so it was you who confessed!" Rika squealed, spinning in a circle.
Suki froze, horrified. "...I didn't say that!"
Hana leaned forward, eyes narrowing like a detective closing in. "So you did."
Emi set her glass down with a smirk. "Spill. Now."
Suki buried his face in a pillow, muffling a scream. "Ughhhh! Why do you three always know everything?!"
"Because we're your sisters," Hana said matter-of-factly.
"And because you're loud," Emi added.
Rika giggled. "And red like a tomato!"
Suki groaned, kicking his legs helplessly. "Fine! Yes, okay, it slipped out during the festival cleanup! I told him I liked him, okay?! Are you happy now?!"
The sisters froze. Then—
"KYAAAAAAAA!" Rika squealed loud enough to shake the walls.
Hana blinked, then smiled slowly. "...So it's real."
Emi burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. "Oh my god, you actually did it."
Suki covered his face. "It wasn't on purpose! I was just—talking, and it slipped! And now it's all awkward and he keeps calling me an idiot, but he's blushing too, and I don't know what to do!"
The sisters exchanged looks, then descended on him like vultures.
"You're in too deep," Hana declared.
"He's totally into you," Emi said with a smirk.
"This is the best romance drama ever!" Rika squealed.
"It's not a drama!" Suki protested, flailing under the pillow. "It's my life!"
"Exactly," Emi grinned. "And we're the supporting cast. Time to push the main couple together."
Suki's eyes widened in horror. "N-no scheming! Don't you dare!"
"Too late," Rika sang, skipping off to grab a notebook. "Operation Lovebird is a go!"
Hana stood, folding her arms. "Listen, Suki. Ryuzí's not the type to admit things easily. If you back off now, he'll retreat into his shell. You need to keep pushing, slowly but surely."
Suki blinked. "...You sound like you've been studying his psychology."
"I have," Hana said coolly. "I watch him whenever he comes over. He's protective, stubborn, but soft when it comes to you."
Emi smirked. "Basically, he's already whipped."
Suki choked. "He is NOT!"
"Yes he is," Emi and Rika said in unison.
Suki buried his face again, whining. "This is so embarrassing."
Later that night, after dinner, the sisters weren't done.
Rika flopped onto Suki's bed with her sketchbook, doodling exaggerated chibis of him and Ryuzí holding hands. "Look! Future wedding!"
"RIKA!" Suki shrieked, grabbing for the notebook.
Emi leaned in the doorway, smirking. "So... when's the next step? Are you going to confess again? Maybe make him lunch? Write him a love letter?"
"I-I can't!" Suki stammered, his face hot.
"Why not?" Hana asked calmly, adjusting her glasses.
"Because he's... Ryuzí," Suki whispered, fiddling with the corner of his blanket. "He's been through so much. I don't want to push him too hard. What if he hates me?"
The sisters went quiet for a moment.
Then Hana spoke firmly. "He doesn't hate you. If he did, he wouldn't let you near him at all."
Emi's smirk softened. "He lets you in, Suki. That's huge for someone like him."
Rika beamed, hugging the plush Ryuzí had won at the festival. "You make him smile. I've seen it."
Suki blinked, eyes stinging. "...You think so?"
"We know so," Hana said.
Suki smiled faintly, hugging his pillow to his chest. "...Okay. Then I'll keep trying. No matter how grumpy he is."
Emi smirked. "That's the spirit."
Rika pumped her fists. "Operation Lovebird is officially underway!"
Suki groaned, but inside, his heart felt lighter. His sisters might drive him crazy—but maybe, just maybe, they'd help him find the courage to reach Ryuzí's heart for real.