Kanae stretched lazily, leaning back against the soft pillows of her bed. The moonlight spilled through the window, casting a soft, silver glow over the room. Despite the tranquility around her, her mind was anything but calm. Thoughts of Akira swirled endlessly, making it difficult to
relax.
Akira. Her younger "brother." He had always been someone she looked after, someone she protected. But lately, things had changed. Akira wasn't the same boy who used to trail behind her, looking up with wide, adoring eyes. He had grown into someone dependable, strong, and mature—far beyond his years.
He was still young, just thirteen, but he carried himself with such calm and confidence that it often made her forget that he was technically younger than her. That confidence had been there even when they were children, but now, it had bloomed into something more—something that left Kanae feeling unsettled in ways she couldn't quite explain.
Her heart fluttered at the mere thought of him, and she quickly shook her head, trying to dispel the strange warmth building in her chest.
'Stop it,' she scolded herself. 'He's still Akira. He still calls me "Nee-chan."'
But the rational part of her mind couldn't drown out the emotions that swirled underneath.
Sighing, Kanae reached for her phone, hoping for a distraction. Her fingers moved almost automatically as she opened the system interface, her eyes catching sight of a new notification in the group chat.
Her curiosity piqued, she tapped into the conversation.
"I finished my mission, so I'll be resting for a week," Shinobu's message popped up on the screen.
"I also finished killing the demon on my mission! My rank increased to Tsuchinoto!" Mitsuri's usual exuberance practically jumped off the screen, and Kanae could easily imagine her friend's proud smile as she typed.
"My rank increased too. I'm Tsuchinoto this time," Shinobu added.
A small smile crept onto Kanae's lips. Mitsuri and Shinobu always found ways to brighten the mood, even in their line of work. But then, her eyes landed on Akira's message, and her heart skipped a beat.
"You two ranked up quite fast. By the way, I'm a Kinoe now," Akira said.
Her breath caught in her throat for just a moment. She hadn't expected that. Akira had reached Kinoe rank? She felt a surge of pride for him but couldn't help the small pang of surprise that followed. 'He's growing so fast,' she thought.
Kanae's fingers hovered over her phone, and before she could stop herself, she quickly typed a response.
"I'm a Kinoe too," she said.
There was a brief pause before Mitsuri chimed in, her curious nature clearly shining through.
"Are you Akira's new woman?" Mitsuri asked bluntly.
Kanae nearly dropped her phone. "What?!" she gasped aloud, her cheeks flushing as her eyes darted over the screen again. The implication in Mitsuri's message sent her heart into overdrive.
Quickly, Kanae typed back, "No!"
Mitsuri wasn't done though. "Then why did Akira invite you?"
Kanae's hands trembled slightly as she stared at the screen. 'Why did Akira invite me?' she wondered, her chest tightening. She didn't have an answer. Truth be told, she hadn't questioned it much when the invitation came, but now, with Mitsuri's question hanging in the air, she wondered herself.
"I don't know," Kanae said, letting out a sigh. "Do you guys know the reason?"
"I don't know," Mitsuri replied. "Akira invited us because we're his girlfriends. So I thought…"
Kanae's heart pounded in her chest. 'Girlfriends?' Were Mitsuri and Shinobu really Akira's…? The thought made her stomach twist with emotions she didn't fully understand.
Before she could dwell on it further, another message appeared—this time from Shinobu.
"Nee-chan, it's okay to confess your feelings to Akira, you know," Shinobu said nonchalantly.
Kanae froze, her breath catching. She blinked at the screen, almost hoping she had misread it.
'Confess? My feelings?'
Her heart thudded loudly in her ears. Shinobu… knew? Did she really see through Kanae so easily? It wasn't like Kanae had ever told anyone about her feelings—she barely acknowledged them herself! And yet, here was Shinobu, practically urging her to confess.
"Shinobu!" Kanae protested weakly, her thoughts scrambling. "Are you sure?"
"Of course," Shinobu responded calmly. "You've liked him for a long time, haven't you?"
Kanae stared at her phone, her hands gripping it tightly. It was true. She couldn't deny it anymore. Somewhere along the line, her feelings for Akira had shifted. He wasn't just the younger brother she used to protect. He had grown into someone she admired deeply, someone whose presence comforted her in a way no one else could.
But confessing? Could she even do that?
Her heart told her one thing, but her mind screamed the opposite. Akira still called her "Nee-chan"—that affectionate title that reminded her of their dynamic. Could he really see her as something more?
Mitsuri's voice popped into the conversation, breaking through her thoughts.
"Wait, you two are siblings?" Mitsuri asked in shock.
Kanae bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. It wasn't exactly a secret, but this conversation had spiraled into territory she hadn't expected. Still, she couldn't leave it unanswered.
"Yes, why?" Kanae replied, trying to keep her response simple.
Shinobu echoed her. "Yes, why?"
"Nothing!" Mitsuri said quickly, followed by a laughing emoji. "I just didn't expect it, that's all!"
Despite the confusing mess of emotions swirling inside her, Kanae let out a small laugh at Mitsuri's antics. She appreciated her friend's attempt to lighten the mood, but the truth of her feelings lingered heavily in the back of her mind.
As the hours ticked by, the conversation in the group chat began to slow. The others gradually went offline, leaving Kanae alone with her thoughts. She lay back in bed, staring at the ceiling, the soft moonlight bathing her in its glow.
Her mind wouldn't stop replaying the group chat conversation. Shinobu's words haunted her, echoing in her head.
'You've liked him for a long time, haven't you?'
'I have,' Kanae thought, her chest tightening. She had always brushed those feelings aside, convincing herself they were just remnants of childhood fondness. But now that Akira had grown—become someone so capable and strong—it was harder to ignore.
But did he feel the same?
Kanae's eyelids grew heavy as she pondered the question, and slowly, the warmth of the bed lulled her into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Akira sat perched on a sturdy tree branch outside Kanae's window, his silver hair catching the moonlight as he quietly watched over her. He had been there for a while now, making sure she was safe, as he always did.
When he was certain there were no threats lurking nearby, his gaze drifted back to Kanae. She was fast asleep, her face peaceful and relaxed against the soft pillows. The sight of her like this stirred something in his chest—a feeling that had been growing stronger over the past few years.
Ever since they were children, Kanae had always been there for him. She was his anchor, the one person he could always count on. And as they grew older, that bond had only deepened. But now, it was something more. Akira knew it, though he wasn't sure how to express it.
He had fallen in love with her.
The realization had come slowly, but it was undeniable. Kanae wasn't just his "Nee-chan" anymore. She was someone he admired, someone he wanted to protect not just out of duty but out of something far deeper.
A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he watched her sleep. Even in rest, she radiated a calm strength that he had always admired. With a gentle motion, he placed a protective barrier around her—just in case—and settled in for the night, keeping a watchful eye on the horizon.
Chapter 2: Morning Light
The first rays of dawn filtered through the window, casting a soft glow over the room. Kanae stirred beneath the blankets, her eyes slowly fluttering open. For a moment, she lay there, basking in the warmth of the bed and the sunlight streaming in.
Then, her gaze shifted toward the window, and she froze.
There, perched on the tree branch outside, was Akira. His posture was relaxed, his back resting against the trunk as he gazed out over the landscape. His silver hair shimmered in the morning light, and Kanae's heart did a little flip at the sight of him.
She quickly averted her eyes, feeling her cheeks grow warm. 'How long has he been there?' she wondered, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Had he been watching her sleep this entire time?
"Good morning," Akira said casually, noticing that she was awake. "I thought you'd want breakfast before we head out to finish the mission."
Kanae's heart skipped a beat. He's been awake for hours?
"How long have you been awake?" Kanae asked, trying to sound calm.
"About an hour before you," Akira replied, his tone nonchalant.
'An hour?' she thought, a bit flustered. 'Has he really just been sitting there watching me?'
Her face flushed at the thought, but she quickly busied herself with the breakfast Akira handed her. The simple meal was enough to bring her focus back to the task at hand.
They finished their meal in comfortable silence before setting off toward their destination: Kyogai's house, where they were to complete their demon-hunting mission.
As they approached the ominous building, Akira shot a glance at Kanae. "I'm going inside," he said.
"No!" Kanae blurted out, her face heating up again. "Let's go in together, Akira."
He raised an eyebrow at her sudden outburst, but when he saw the blush creeping up her cheeks, he smiled faintly and nodded. "Alright. Together then."
Kanae bit her lip, trying to calm her racing heart as they stepped into the house side by side.
To be continued....