Kazuki trailed behind Aoi and Shizuka, trying to keep up as they darted from store to store with boundless energy. This was supposed to be a quick outing to pick up some essentials, but Aoi had somehow turned it into a full shopping spree.
"Come on, Onii-chan!" Aoi tugged on his arm, flashing him an exaggerated pout. "It's not every day you get to go shopping with two amazing girls. Act excited!"
"Sure, sure," he mumbled, half-rolling his eyes. But as his gaze fell on Shizuka, who gave him a warm smile, his mood lightened. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
As they wandered through the mall, Shizuka led them into a swimwear store, her eyes scanning the racks. Kazuki was about to protest, but Shizuka held up a finger, smirking.
"I want to check out some swimsuits. Besides, I might need something for our next date, don't you think?"
Kazuki's heart skipped a beat, his face warming. "Y-yeah, sure…"
Aoi's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Oh, look at him blushing! Shizuka, you're really too much for him."
Shizuka laughed, pulling a bikini off the rack and holding it up for Kazuki's reaction. "What do you think? Would this one look nice?"
Kazuki tried to hold her gaze but found himself looking away, completely flustered. "It's… um… it's fine, I guess?"
Shizuka gave him a soft, teasing smile, leaning close. "You guess? That's not exactly convincing."
Aoi grinned mischievously. "Onii-chan, she wants you to say she'll look amazing in it. You can do better than 'it's fine'!"
Kazuki felt cornered, but he looked at Shizuka again, seeing her shy but hopeful expression. "Okay… you'd look beautiful in it," he admitted quietly, his voice barely a whisper.
Shizuka's face brightened, a light blush coloring her cheeks. "Thank you, Kazuki."
They left the store, Kazuki trying to shake off his embarrassment, but Aoi was having none of it. "Onii-chan, I don't think I've ever seen you so red! This is priceless!"
Kazuki sighed. "Thanks for making it even more embarrassing," he muttered, though a reluctant smile crept onto his face.
They continued through the mall, finally taking a break at a small café. Kazuki let out a sigh of relief, sinking into his seat while Shizuka sat beside him, her hand casually resting on his arm.
Aoi sat across from them, grinning as she watched the two of them together. "It's cute seeing you two like this," she said, folding her hands under her chin. "Onii-chan, you're almost like a real boyfriend when you're not being so serious."
"Almost?" Kazuki shot her a look, and Shizuka giggled, giving his arm a reassuring squeeze.
"Don't worry, Kazuki," she murmured. "I think you're doing great." Her hand lingered on his, and Kazuki felt a wave of warmth that he was pretty sure was visible on his face. She leaned closer, her voice soft. "Today's been really fun. Thank you for coming."
For a moment, Kazuki forgot they weren't alone in the café. But Aoi's voice snapped him back. "Hey, don't get too cozy! I'm still here, you know!"
Shizuka laughed, and Kazuki cleared his throat, feeling both relieved and a bit disappointed at the interruption. But the gentle look Shizuka gave him told him that she'd enjoyed the moment as much as he had.
As they left the café and made their way home, Aoi latched onto Kazuki's arm, making sure she held his attention. Kazuki chuckled at her usual antics, but he glanced at Shizuka, giving her a soft smile, grateful that she was there with him. Despite his initial reluctance, he couldn't deny it— he is so lucky.