Chapter 4: "Morning Delights"
I gently shook Natsumi awake, her sleepy eyes fluttering open to meet my warm smile. "Good morning, Natsumi! Rise and shine! We've got a fun day ahead of us."
Natsumi stretched, her tiny body arching as she yawned. "Mornin', Oni-Chan... What's the plan for today?"
I chuckled. "Well, first things first, we need to get you cleaned up. Let's get you in the tub, and then we'll brush those tangled locks of yours. And don't forget, I've already prepared breakfast for us!"
Natsumi's eyes widened in excitement. "Yay! I'm so hungry, Oni-Chan!"
I smiled, helping Natsumi out of bed. "I know you are, little one. Now, let's get moving! We've got a lot to do today."
In the bathroom, I filled the tub with warm water, and we both climbed in, splashing and playing in the water. I poured shampoo into my hand, working it into a rich lather before gently massaging it into Natsumi's hair.
"Wow, Oni-Chan, that feels so good!" Natsumi exclaimed, closing her eyes in bliss.
I'm glad you like it, Natsumi," I replied, my fingers working out the tangles. "So, what do you want to do today?"
"Hmm, I don't know," Natsumi said, her voice dreamy. "What do you suggest, Oni-Chan?"
"Well, we've got school today," I said, grinning. "But don't worry, we'll make it fun. We can chat about our favorite subjects."
"Yay! I love learning, Oni-Chan!" Natsumi exclaimed.
As we sat in the tub, the warm water swirling around us, we chatted about everything and nothing - school, friends, favorite foods, and TV shows. The conversation flowed easily, like a gentle stream meandering through the countryside.
After rinsing off, we climbed out of the tub, wrapping ourselves in towels. I led Natsumi to her room, where her school uniform lay neatly on the bed. But Natsumi had other ideas.
"Oni-Chan, I don't wanna wear my school uniform today. I want you to dress me instead!"
I raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh? And why's that, little one?"
Natsumi's face lit up with a mischievous grin. "Because I want you to put it on me yourself, Oni-Chan! Please?"
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Natsumi, you're such a handful sometimes... But okay, deal!"
As I helped Natsumi into her uniform, we talked about the previous night's events, Natsumi's face glowing with happiness.
"Oni-Chan, I had the best time last night. I love you so much!"
My heart swelled with emotion, my eyes locking onto hers. "I love you too, Natsumi. You're such a special girl."
Our banter continued, a lively back-and-forth that filled the room with laughter and warmth. I couldn't help but feel grateful for this little girl who had captured my heart.
Finally, we headed to the kitchen, where a delicious breakfast spread awaited. Natsumi's eyes widened as she took in the feast before her.
"Oni-Chan, you're the best! I'm so hungry!"
I smiled, happy to see her so enthusiastic. "Dig in, Natsumi. I made your favorite – pancakes and scrambled eggs."
And so we ate, our conversation flowing easily as we enjoyed our meal together.
After breakfast, we grabbed our backpacks and headed out the door, ready to face the day at our respective schools. I smiled, knowing that Natsumi would have a great day, and I couldn't wait to see her again after school.
As we ate, I asked Natsumi, "So, what's your favorite subject in school?"
"Hmm, I think it's art," Natsumi replied, her eyes sparkling. "I love drawing and painting. I'm not very good at it, but it's so much fun!"
I smiled. "I think you're great at it, Natsumi. You have a wonderful imagination. Maybe one day you'll be a famous artist!"
Natsumi's face lit up with excitement. "Really, Oni-Chan? You think so?"
I nodded. "Absolutely! You have a talent for it. And who knows, maybe you'll even draw a picture of us together."
Natsumi giggled. "I'd love that, Oni-Chan! I'll draw us holding hands and smiling at each other."
My heart swelled with emotion at the thought. "
"Now that we're done with breakfast, let's head to school," I said, smiling at Natsumi.
"Okay, Oni-Chan," Natsumi replied, her eyes sparkling. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too, Natsumi," I said, ruffling her hair. "But don't worry, I'll see you after school."
We headed out the door, holding hands, and walked to our respective schools. As we walked, Natsumi chattered excitedly about her day.
As we walked to Natsumi's school, we met Ai on the way. Natsumi grinned mischievously and said, "Hey, Ai! Guess what? Oni-Chan kissed me last night... multiple times!"
Ai's eyes widened in surprise, and she looked at me with a hint of anger. "Asahi, what's going on?"
I tried to play it cool, but Natsumi continued, "Yeah, Ai, Oni-Chan kissed me on the lips! And it was so romantic!"
Ai's face fell, and she looked away, trying to give me the cold shoulder. "I don't want to hear it, Asahi."
I knew I was in trouble, but Natsumi just giggled and said, "Ai, don't be jealous! Oni-Chan said I'm his favorite little sister!"
I glared at Natsumi, trying to signal her to stop, but she just winked at me.
After dropping Natsumi off at her school, Ai and I headed to our own school. Ai was quiet, still giving me the cold shoulder.
I tried to apologize, "Ai, I can explain... Natsumi asked me to kiss her while we were snuggled under the blanket last night. I didn't mean to make you jealous."
Ai looked at me, her eyes still flashing with anger. "Just be honest with me, Asahi. Did you enjoy kissing her?"
I sighed, knowing I had to come clean. "Ai, I... I don't know. It was just a weird moment, okay? I promise I don't have feelings for Natsumi like that."
Ai looked away, still upset. I knew I had to make it up to her...
Just then, Taro Yamada, our classmate and friend, walked up to us, grinning. "Hey, guys! What's going on?"
Ai still looked upset, but Taro's arrival seemed to lighten the mood. "Just Asahi being his usual self," Ai said, rolling her eyes.
Taro chuckled. "Oh, yeah? What did you do this time, Asahi?"
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Natsumi asked me to kiss her last night, and now Ai's mad at me."
Taro's eyes widened in surprise. "Whoa, that's... quite a story!"
Just then, Mayuri, our class president, walked up to us, looking stern. "What's all the commotion about?"
Taro filled her in, "Asahi kissed Natsumi last night, and now Ai's giving him the cold shoulder."
Mayuri's expression turned disapproving. "Asahi, what were you thinking? You're 17, and Natsumi's just 10!"
I knew I was in trouble. "I know, Mayuri, it was just a weird moment, okay? I promise I don't have feelings for Natsumi like that."
Mayuri sighed. "Asahi, you need to be more careful. You're setting a bad example for the rest of us."
Ai still looked upset, but Taro tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, come on, guys! Let's not fight. We're all friends here."
But Mayuri just shook her head. "This is serious, Taro. Asahi needs to learn boundaries."
I shrugged, trying to defend myself. "She's my younger sister, anyway. And I can't say no when she uses those pleading eyes on me."
Mayuri raised an eyebrow. "That's no excuse, Asahi. You're still older, and you should know better."
Taro chuckled. "Yeah, Asahi, you're a sucker for those puppy dog eyes, aren't you?"
I grinned sheepishly. "Hey, can you blame me? Natsumi's got some serious skills when it comes to getting what she wants."
Ai still looked upset, but I could see a hint of a smile on her face. "Asahi, you're impossible."
Mayuri sighed. "Anyway, let's just drop it for now. We have more important things to worry about, like the upcoming school festival."
Taro's eyes lit up. "Oh, yeah! I almost forgot. We need to start planning our class booth."
I clapped my hands together. "Alright, let's get to work! Who's got ideas?"
Ai looked up at me, her eyes searching. "Asahi, can I talk to you for a minute?"
I nodded, following her away from the group. "Hey, what's up?"
Ai's voice trembled. "Even if Natsumi is your sister, when you kiss someone other than me, it hurts. My heart hurts, and I feel bad and scared."
I took a deep breath, understanding her feelings. "Ai, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. It was just a weird moment with Natsumi, and I didn't think it would affect you like this."
Ai's eyes welled up with tears. "But it does affect me, Asahi. When you kiss someone else, even if it's just your sister, it feels like you're not being loyal to me. Like your heart belongs to someone else too."
I pulled Ai into a hug, feeling a pang of guilt. "Ai, my heart belongs to you. I promise. I was just being a stupid brother, and I didn't think about how my actions would affect you."
Ai sniffled, her voice muffled against my chest. "I know you love me, Asahi. But please, don't do something like that again. It hurts too much."
I held her tight, vowing to be more mindful of her feelings. "I won't, Ai. I promise. You're the only one I want to kiss, and I'll make sure to remember that."
I teased, "On a better thought, if I don't do what Natsumi says, then she'll kill me. And if I don't listen to you, you're gonna kill me too. No promises, I'm a dead man either way!"
Ai playfully rolled her eyes. "You're ridiculous, Asahi. But seriously, just be honest with me, okay? If you're going to kiss your sister, at least warn me first."
I chuckled. "Deal! But only if you promise not to kill me with your death stare."
Ai smiled, her eyes sparkling. "I make no promises. But I'll try to control myself."
I grinned, feeling relieved. "That's all I can ask for."
Just then, Taro and Mayuri walked up to us, grinning mischievously. "Hey, lovebirds! What's going on?"
Ai blushed, and I chuckled. "Just having a heart-to-heart, Taro. Don't mind us."
Taro teased, "Aww, Asahi's getting scolded by his girlfriend! Mayuri, didn't I tell you Ai-chan's the boss?"
Mayuri laughed. "Taro, stop teasing them. We need their help for the festival anyway."
Taro's expression turned serious. "Yeah, that's right! Asahi, Ai, we need your help with the class booth. Can you guys help us out?"
I nodded. "Of course, what do you need us to do?"
Mayuri smiled. "We need help with the planning and setup. And Asahi, we need your famous cooking skills."
Ai added, "And I'll help with the decorations. I have some ideas."
Taro grinned. "That's the spirit! Let's work together and make this festival amazing!"
As we walked to class, Taro and Mayuri continued to tease us, but I didn't mind. I was just happy to have my friends and girlfriend by my side. And I knew that together, we could make the festival unforgettable.
THE END OF CHAPTER 4