Max groaned as he felt something poke his side. He slowly opened his eyes, squinting against the bright sunlight streaming in through his window. He turned his head to see his little sister, Illyanna, grinning mischievously at him.
"Come on, lazybones! It's morning already!" she exclaimed, bouncing on the edge of his bed.
Max rubbed his eyes and sat up, groggily. "I'm up, I'm up," he muttered, stifling a yawn.
Illyanna pouted. "You're no fun," she complained, crossing her arms.
Max chuckled, tousling her hair. "I'm always up for fun. Just give me a minute to wake up."
Illyanna hopped off the bed and pirouetted around the room, humming a tune. Max watched her with amusement, feeling the corners of his mouth tug up into a smile.
"You're always so full of energy," he remarked, shaking his head.
Illyanna giggled. "That's 'cause I don't waste time sleeping all day," she teased, sticking her tongue out at him.
Max rolled his eyes, but couldn't help but laugh. "Hey, I like my sleep. It's good for the soul," he retorted, grabbing a pillow and tossing it at her.
Illyanna dodged it easily and tackled him, tickling his sides. Max squirmed and tried to push her off, but she was surprisingly strong for her size.
"Stop it, stop it!" he gasped, laughing so hard he could barely breathe.
Illyanna finally relented, collapsing on the bed beside him. They lay there for a few moments, catching their breath.
"I love you, Max," Illyanna said, snuggling up to him.
Max hugged her back, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. "I love you too, squirt," he replied, ruffling her hair affectionately.
As they got up to start their day, Max felt a sense of gratitude for his lively little sister. She always managed to brighten up his day and keep him on his toes. He couldn't imagine a world without her.