The three of them sat around the dining table, plates loaded with Kazuki's culinary masterpiece. The aroma of the delicious dinner filled the room, and with each bite, Shizuka and Aoi's faces lit up with pure delight.
"This is incredible, Kazuki!" Shizuka said, savoring another bite. "If you keep cooking like this, I'm going to have to come over every night."
Kazuki chuckled, feeling a bit shy. "Well, I'll have to start charging you rent if that's the case."
Aoi scoffed, playfully nudging Shizuka. "Who said you're even allowed to come over that often? Onii-chan has his hands full enough with me as it is!"
Shizuka gave Aoi a mischievous grin. "Oh? Sounds like you're just jealous that I get to enjoy his cooking too." She then turned to Kazuki. "Next time, though, can you make something spicy? I'd love to see how Aoi handles it."
Aoi, already narrowing her eyes, declared, "Bring it on. I'll eat it all without even breaking a sweat!"
Kazuki watched them banter, enjoying the lively atmosphere. In the middle of the laughter, he brought up an idea he'd been mulling over. "You know, with summer in full swing, maybe we should plan a trip to the beach."
Both girls paused, their eyes lighting up with excitement.
"Yes! The beach would be perfect!" Shizuka exclaimed, clapping her hands.
Aoi immediately added, "And we can make sure you don't spend the whole summer cooking indoors, onii-chan! You need to get out more, too."
Kazuki smiled, appreciating their enthusiasm. "Alright, let's make it happen. I'll look up some places we could go."
With that decided, Kazuki disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a dessert he'd been preparing—a bowl of strawberry parfaits topped with whipped cream. Aoi's eyes widened in delight, her voice an eager squeal. "Strawberries! You remembered!"
Kazuki set the bowls down, watching as Aoi and Shizuka both eagerly dug in. The dessert was fresh and sweet, with a burst of strawberry flavor in every spoonful.
After they finished eating, Shizuka suddenly sat up straight with a mischievous smile. "I have an idea! Let's watch a horror movie!"
Kazuki felt a chill run down his spine at the suggestion. "Uh… horror? Are you sure? I mean, I'm not... exactly a fan."
Aoi smirked, catching onto Kazuki's nervousness. "What's wrong, onii-chan? Are you scared?"
Kazuki tried to brush it off, though his face betrayed him. "No, of course not. I just think… maybe a comedy would be a better way to end the night, you know?"
But Shizuka was already scrolling through a list of horror movies on her phone. "Oh no, this is happening. You need to toughen up, Kazuki! Besides, it'll be fun to watch *with* you. Who knows—maybe we'll discover a whole new side of you." She winked, earning a laugh from Aoi.
Reluctantly, Kazuki agreed, and they set up in the living room, dimming the lights for the full horror movie effect. As the movie began, Kazuki tried to appear calm, but the tension was clearly getting to him. Shizuka and Aoi, on the other hand, seemed fully invested in the suspense, barely flinching at the jump scares.
Then, a terrifying scene played out on the screen—a ghost appearing suddenly in the background, accompanied by a piercing scream. Kazuki jumped, clutching a pillow tightly. Shizuka couldn't contain her laughter, clutching her sides as Kazuki tried to regain his composure.
"Hey! It's not funny!" Kazuki muttered, his face red. "That was a cheap scare!"
"Right, right… but look at you! The 'fearless big brother' isn't as fearless as he seems," Aoi teased, giving him a playful nudge.
Kazuki sighed, trying to laugh it off, though his heart was still racing. But as the movie continued, he found himself tensing up more and more. Shizuka, noticing this, leaned over and whispered with a sly grin, "Don't worry, Kazuki. If you get too scared, you can always hide behind me."
Kazuki groaned, rolling his eyes. "Very funny. Just watch the movie, would you?"
As the final, bone-chilling scene approached, Kazuki was on edge, practically gripping the edge of the couch. Just as the last scare hit, he let out an unintentional yelp, making Shizuka and Aoi burst out laughing again. The movie ended, leaving him both relieved and slightly embarrassed.
With the lights back on, Shizuka stretched, wiping away a tear from laughing so hard. "Well, that was *way* more entertaining than I expected!"
Kazuki shook his head, finally laughing along with them. "Alright, alright, get it out of your systems. Next time, we're picking a rom-com."
As they cleaned up and prepared to call it a night, Kazuki couldn't help but feel grateful for the lively company around him. It had been an unexpectedly fun evening, full of laughter, teasing, and memories he'd keep with him for a long time.